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Donald Trump renewed his public attacks on Volodymyr Zelenskyy and dismissed efforts by European leaders to forge a common front with the Ukrainian president as the fallout from Friday’s White House confrontation intensified further.
In a Truth Social post on Monday, Trump lashed out at Zelenskyy for saying on Sunday night that the end of the war with Russia was “very very far away” and warned that America would “not put up with it for much longer”.
He also suggested that a weekend of intense European diplomacy, including a summit in London hosted by UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and a one-month truce proposed by French President Emmanuel Macron, had failed to improve Kyiv’s standing.
“This guy doesn’t want there to be Peace as long as he has America’s backing,” Trump wrote referring to the Ukrainian president. “Europe, in the meeting they had with Zelenskyy, stated flatly that they cannot do the job without the US,” the US president added.
In a statement posted to social media from Kyiv on Monday evening, Zelenskyy said that Kyiv would “continue our work with partners. We have already had talks and other steps to come soon.”
The relationship with Zelenskyy has descended into acrimony after Trump and vice-president JD Vance openly criticised the Ukrainian president during an extraordinary public spat in the Oval Office on Friday.
The verbal showdown has jeopardised the chances of a peace deal with Russia on terms that Ukraine could agree to, and raised alarm across many European capitals about Trump’s stance on the conflict and broader commitment to security on the continent.
Donald Trump, right, and Volodymyr Zelenskyy during Friday’s tense exchange in the Oval Office © Brian Snyder/Reuters
The spat also prevented the US and Ukraine from signing a deal on American access to Ukraine’s critical minerals that was seen as essential for Trump to maintain Washington’s support for Kyiv.
On Monday, The New York Times reported that the US president was due to meet with his top advisers on Ukraine to discuss suspending or cancelling aid to the country, adding to the concern.
But a White House official played down the significance of the meeting. “There are always high-level discussions among administration officials about bringing the conflict in Ukraine to a peaceful resolution,” the official told the Financial Times.
Mike Waltz, Trump’s national security adviser, on Monday urged Zelenskyy to return to talks with the US as quickly as possible, warning that “time is not on his side” and America’s patience was “wearing thin”.
“What we need to hear from President Zelenskyy is that he has regret for what happened, he’s ready to sign this minerals deal and that he’s ready to engage in peace talks,” Waltz said. “I don’t think that’s too much to ask. I think that’s what’s best for the American people, for the Ukrainian people, for Russia and for the world to restore stability,” he added.
Zelenskyy said on Monday that Ukraine was still “very much” hoping for “US support on the path to peace”.
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Starmer is expected to hold further talks with European leaders this week. Downing Street did not rule out the prime minister travelling to Brussels on Thursday, when EU leaders are holding an emergency summit.
Britain and France have offered to lead a “coalition of the willing” in supplying troops to guarantee a peace deal in Ukraine, but Starmer has insisted there must be a US “backstop”.
British officials say that must mean US air cover, surveillance and other military support. Starmer has said that without this there was a danger that Russian President Vladimir Putin would “come again” for more Ukrainian territory.
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