US President Donald Trump criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for saying peace was a long way off, while suggesting the Kyiv leader could leave if he did not agree to a deal.
On March 3, President Trump posted on the social network Truth Social criticizing President Zelensky for his counterpart's comments on the time to end the war in Ukraine.
Earlier, Mr. Zelensky predicted that an agreement to end the conflict between Ukraine and Russia was still very far away, according to AP. "The final agreement to end the war is very, very far away. No one has even started all those steps," Mr. Zelensky said on March 2 on his way back home after a conference with European leaders in London.
President Zelensky and President Trump at a meeting at the White House on February 28
"This was the worst statement Zelensky could have made, and the United States will not stand for it much longer. This is what I said, this man does not want peace while he has the support of the United States, and the Europeans in their meeting with Zelensky stated flatly that they cannot do it without the United States. Probably not a great statement to make in terms of showing strength to Russia. What were they thinking?" Trump wrote.
On March 3, when asked by an ABC News reporter what he needed from Mr. Zelensky to restore peace agreement negotiations, Mr. Trump replied: "He should be more grateful that this country has gone with them through all the circumstances."
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Asked later to comment on Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov's claim that US foreign policy is largely aligned with Russia's vision, Trump replied: "It takes two to tango. And you're going to have to make a deal with Russia and you're going to have to make a deal with Ukraine. If somebody doesn't want to make a deal, I don't think they're going to be around very long. They're not going to be heard."
President Trump added that he believes that like Russia, "the Ukrainian people certainly want to make a deal because they have suffered more than anybody."
Earlier on March 3, Mr. Zelensky expressed gratitude for the US support over the years. He said that the contacts last week were the beginning of a longer process to end the conflict. "There will be more meetings and joint efforts in the coming days and weeks. There will be diplomacy for peace. And it is in the interests of all of us, Ukraine, all of Europe and certainly the United States, to stand together," the Ukrainian leader said.
On the other hand, Mr. Zelensky assessed that the relationship between Ukraine and the US will continue because it is not an opportunistic relationship. He also affirmed that he would go to the US to meet President Trump again if invited to a serious dialogue.
"We deserve an equal dialogue. If the US President invites me to a constructive dialogue, to solve real problems, serious issues and decisive actions and solutions, I will come," Mr. Zelensky said.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/ong-trump-goi-y-ong-zelensky-co-the-ra-di-vi-tu-choi-thoa-thuan-185250304085305117.htm
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