Trump Warns Zelensky: “Make Peace or Lose the Whole Country”
U.S. President Donald Trump issued a stark warning to Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky on Wednesday, suggesting that Ukraine could lose its entire territory if it continues to block peace efforts with Russia — particularly over the issue of Crimea.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump criticized Zelensky for publicly rejecting the idea of recognizing Crimea as Russian — a key element of a Washington-backed peace framework. Following Zelensky’s refusal, top U.S. negotiators abruptly withdrew from a scheduled meeting with European backers, leading to the summit’s downgrade.
“This statement is very harmful to the Peace Negotiations with Russia in that Crimea was lost years ago,” Trump wrote, calling out the Ukrainian president for *“prolonging the conflict.”
Trump: Ukraine at a Crossroads — Peace or Total Collapse
Trump’s post described Ukraine’s current situation as "dire", warning:
“He can have Peace, or he can fight for another three years before losing the whole Country.”
He doubled down, stating that Zelensky has “no cards to play” and should urgently finalize a deal while a viable option is still on the table.
Stalemate Over Crimea Derails Peace Momentum
The renewed diplomatic push was aimed at presenting a comprehensive deal to Moscow, including provisions for:
Ukrainian neutrality
U.S. control of the Zaporozhye nuclear zone
Non-expansion of NATO in Ukraine
And, crucially, recognition of Crimea as Russian territory
Crimea, whose population is majority Russian-speaking, voted in a 2014 referendum to join Russia following what Moscow calls a Western-backed coup in Kiev — a vote that Washington and Kiev have never recognized.
US Patience Running Thin
U.S. officials have hinted they may abandon Ukraine peace efforts altogether if no progress is made. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told the Free Press that the U.S. may “move on to other priorities” if “not enough movement is happening.”
Washington is also reportedly frustrated with delays in securing mineral extraction deals to offset the massive financial and military aid sent to Ukraine — suggesting mounting pressure for a geopolitical return on investment.
Kremlin: Russia Ready — But Not at Any Cost
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow remains open to a permanent, root-cause-based settlement, but warned that the West would likely use any temporary truce to rearm Ukraine.
“A peace deal will not come quickly or easily,” Peskov stated.“Russia will not accept a deal that merely resets the battlefield for another war.”