Before Russia launched its overnight attacks, Donald Trump had suggested a peace deal in Ukraine was “very close”.
JD Vance had earlier laid out the US vision for a deal, saying it would freeze the frontlines “close to where they are today”, adding that Ukraine and Russia would both have to “give up some of the territory they currently own”.
The deal is also slated to include US recognition of Russia’s control over Crimea, the Ukrainian region Moscow illegally annexed in 2014.
That point appears to be a sticking point for Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who has repeatedly said that Ukraine would not accept giving up Crimea as part of peace negotiations.
That’s irked Trump, who suggested in the Oval Office last night he found it easier to deal with Russia than he did Zelebskyy.
“I think Russia is ready and a lot of people said Russia wanted to go for the whole thing. And I think we have a deal with Russia. We have to get a deal with Zelenskyy,” Trump told reporters.
“I thought it might be easier to deal with Zelenskyy. So far, it’s been harder. But, I think we have a deal with both.”
In an earlier post on Truth Social yesterday, Trump said Zelenskyy’s stance over Crimea will “do nothing but prolong the ‘killing field’, and nobody wants that”.
Watch: Is Trump really ‘close’ to securing a deal for Ukraine?