President Volodymyr Zelensky made it clear on Sunday that US President Donald Trump should apply more pressure on Russia’s Vladimir Putin to end his invasion of Ukraine, and that he would not, as Trump demanded, turn over territory in order to bring peace.
Responding to a report from the Financial Times over the weekend that Trump told him at their summit on Friday to hand eastern Donbas over to Russia – resulting in an expletive-filled exchange in which Trump reportedly concluded that refusal to do so marked the end of Ukraine – Zelensky was resolute on Sunday, saying that would never happen.
In his evening address, Zelensky said, “The world sees that Russia reacts to force, so, peace through force can work. Ukraine will not give terrorists any bounty for their crimes, and we count on the support of our partners exactly this position.”
On Sunday, the Financial Times reported that Trump demanded in their meeting that Zelensky cede eastern territory to Moscow or cease to exist.
“Putin said he would destroy Ukraine if you don’t agree,” the FT paraphrased Trump as telling Zelensky, citing a European official familiar with the meeting, going on to report that Trump dismissed maps Zelensky had brought showing current frontlines and Ukrainian control in contested areas.
Zelensky left the meeting in Washington without an agreement for the US to send Kyiv long-range Tomahawk missiles. Trump had suggested he might do just that, after airing frustration in his dealings with Putin, who has regularly back-tracked on every ceasefire promise he has made.
In Friday’s meeting, Trump also reportedly told Zelensky he never had any plans to approve the Tomahawks.
Asked on NBC’s iconic political show, “Meet the Press”, on Sunday whether Trump should get tougher on Putin after Trump took credit for organizing a ceasefire deal in Gaza, and approve such a missile transfer, Zelensky said, “Yes, and even more because Putin is something similar, but stronger than Hamas.”
“And that’s why more pressure,” Zelensky added.
In Sunday’s NBC interview, Zelensky also said that his delegation should be included in upcoming talks in Budapest that are planned between Trump and Putin.
“If we really want to have just and lasting peace, we need both sides of this tragedy,” Zelensky said. “Yes, he’s an occupier, but Ukraine is suffering and fighting. And, of course, how can there be a deal about us, without us?”
Trump also took to the airways on Sunday, on right-wing and Trump-loyal media Fox News, explaining his rational for not sending Tomahawks to Kyiv.
“We have to remember one thing. We need them for ourselves too. You know, we can’t give all of our weapons to Ukraine,” he said.
In his campaign promises leading up to his 2024 presidential election, Trump claimed on many occasions that he would end Russia’s invasion of Ukraine “within 24 hours” and “even before I become President.”
It has now been nine months since Trump took office.