Trump slams Zelenskyy for saying end of Russia war 'still very, very far away'

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has publicly criticized Ukrainian President Zelenskyy because Zelenskyy stated that the end of the Russia-Ukraine war might be "very, very far away." Trump's remarks have exacerbated tensions between the United States and Ukraine, drawing widespread attention from the international community. This criticism underscores the delicate balance of international relations and the potential impact of individual leaders' statements.

Zelenskyy stated on Monday (early Tuesday AEST) that he believes the war will last for some time. Nevertheless, he sought to express a positive view of US-Ukraine relations after a controversial meeting with President Trump and Vice President JD Vance at the White House. "I think that our relationship (with the United States) will continue, because it is not just a relationship of one occasion," Zelenskyy said, referring to Washington's support for the war in Ukraine over the past three years. This optimistic outlook is aimed at maintaining crucial support for Ukraine's defense efforts.

Trump's latest comments on Zelenskyy appear even more disapproving, suggesting that the three-year conflict will take a long time to end. "This is maybe the worst statement Zelenskyy could ever make, and the USA is not going to tolerate it anymore!" Trump posted on his Truth Social platform. "As I have said, he doesn’t want to settle the War, as long as he has the USA support, and Europe made it clear in their meetings with Zelenskyy, that without the USA they can’t do it—as far as strength of fighting Russia is concerned, maybe not a great statement. What were they thinking?" These remarks highlight a growing divide in perspectives on the conflict and the role of international aid.

French Prime Minister François Bayrou also slammed Trump's harsh criticism of Zelenskyy in the Oval Office on Monday (early Tuesday AEST), calling it a shocking act of "brutality" aimed at humiliating the Ukrainian leader. Bayrou delivered the remarkably frank criticism during a parliamentary debate on Ukraine, a departure from the more nuanced tone adopted by French President Emmanuel Macron after the White House clash on Friday, and abandoned the usual decorum that marks Franco-American relations. This strong condemnation reflects a broader European concern about the implications of Trump's stance.

Friedrich Merz, a possible future leader of Germany, said he repeatedly watched the scene in the Oval Office. "My assessment is that this was not a spontaneous reaction to an intervention by Zelenskyy, but was obviously a deliberately provoked escalation in the Oval Office meeting," Merz said. He also stated that he was "somewhat surprised by the tone with each other," but that "what we are currently seeing in Washington has a certain continuity." He advocated that "we are prepared to do more and much more for our own security in the coming years and decades," although Merz said he wanted to maintain the transatlantic relationship. "I also advocate doing everything we can to keep the Americans in Europe." This highlights the complex considerations surrounding European security and the importance of transatlantic cooperation.