On Monday, December 8th, US President Trump stated that resolving the conflict between Russia and Ukraine is more challenging compared to other wars. He pointed out that despite extensive discussions in Europe about the Russia-Ukraine conflict, no tangible results have been achieved, and the war continues. Trump urged Ukrainian President Zelensky to confront some harsh realities in order to bring an end to the nearly four-year-long conflict.
During an interview with Politico, Trump expressed that the hostility between Zelensky and Russian President Putin makes the peace process between Russia and Ukraine particularly difficult. He mentioned that Putin lacks respect for Zelensky and harbors animosity towards him, making reaching an agreement extremely challenging due to their mutual disdain.
Trump highlighted his track record of resolving numerous conflicts but acknowledged that the Russia-Ukraine war presents unique complexities, partly due to the deep-seated animosity between the leaders. The current situation in Ukraine is dire, as essential infrastructure like electricity and gas facilities have been targeted by drones and missiles, leaving millions without basic necessities like water and heating for hours every day.
Furthermore, Zelensky is facing significant pressure domestically following a major corruption scandal involving some of his ministers and close associates. Russian forces have been making slow progress on the eastern and southern fronts in Ukraine, further weakening Ukraine’s negotiating position. Despite Ukraine’s military denying Russia’s claim of full occupation of the strategic transportation hub of Pokrovsk, frontline soldiers have reportedly described the situation as critical, with Ukrainian commanders admitting they lack sufficient troops to halt the continuous Russian incursions.
In the interview with Politico, Trump emphasized that Russia holds the upper hand in negotiations with Ukraine and stressed the need for Zelensky to acknowledge certain realities because Ukraine is currently at a disadvantage. He pointed out that Ukraine has lost territory in the war, making it evident that this is not a victorious situation. Trump underscored the stark power difference between Russia and Ukraine, stating that challenging Russia is not easy given its evident superiority in size and strength.
Despite acknowledging the bravery and fighting spirit of the Ukrainian people and military, Trump noted that ultimately, military might often prevails. He criticized European nations for engaging in prolonged discussions on the Ukraine conflict without yielding concrete results, allowing the war to persist indefinitely.
Regarding criticisms from Trump, the Chief Spokesperson of the European Commission, Paula Pinho, staunchly defended European leaders, praising Commission President von der Leyen for her leadership in addressing global challenges. Zelensky announced on social media platform X that after several days of diplomatic efforts, Ukraine and its European allies would soon submit an updated peace plan to the US to end the conflict with Russia.
Zelensky further stated that during a meeting with the leaders of the UK, France, and Germany on Monday, they finalized new content for the peace plan. Trump suggested that despite the ongoing war, Ukraine should proceed with elections, emphasizing the importance of the Ukrainian people having the freedom to choose through elections. Zelensky responded by expressing readiness for elections and called on US and European partners to ensure the safety of wartime elections.
He mentioned that elections could be held within the next 60 to 90 days if security measures are in place and indicated plans to request necessary legislative preparations from the parliament for conducting elections during a state of emergency.