In the course of one day on Sunday, US President Donald Trump criticized and threatened Russian President Vladimir Putin but later directed his frustration and warnings toward Ukraine’s leader Volodymyr Zelensky.
Initially, Trump expressed anger over Putin questioning Zelensky’s credibility as a negotiating partner.
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“I was very angry, pissed off,” he said of the Kremlin leader’s remarks.
However, during his flight back to Washington from Mar-a-Lago, Trump softened his stance on Putin, shifting his focus to Zelensky instead. He warned that Ukraine would face “big, big problems” if it backed out of a resources deal with the US, AFP reports.
In the morning, the US president said he was “disappointed in a certain way” over some of Putin’s recent remarks about Zelensky, particularly questioning his credibility as a negotiating partner.
“So I wasn’t happy with that, but I think he’s going to be good, and I certainly wouldn’t want to put secondary tariffs on Russia.”
However, later in the day, Trump accused Zelensky of attempting to back out of the new resources deal that Washington proposed.
“I see he’s trying to back out of the rare earth deal. And if he does that, he’s got some problems. Big, big problems,” Trump said, referring to the resources deal as a rare earth deal though it also demands Ukraine’s oil and gas, among other resources.
Oleksandr Usyk Meets Donald Trump at the White House
He also dismissed Ukraine’s NATO aspirations, stating, “He was never going to be a member of NATO. He understands that.”
Trump’s frustration over the deal comes amid his broader push for a swift resolution to the war, though his administration has yet to secure a breakthrough.
His warming ties with Moscow and threats to cut support for Kyiv have emboldened Russia on the battlefield, where fresh offensives continue.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials reported that Russian strikes hit Kharkiv overnight. Russian forces also claimed to have captured a village near the Dnipropetrovsk region’s border, marking a new advance.
In his evening address, Zelensky called for stronger pressure on Moscow.
“For too long now, America’s proposal for an unconditional ceasefire has been on the table without an adequate response from Russia,” he said. “There could already be a ceasefire if there was real pressure on Russia.”
Ukraine is seeking changes to a new draft agreement with the US on its resources by aiming for more American investment, a source told Bloomberg.
The deal, which grants the US control over key infrastructure and mineral sectors without a set expiration, has raised concerns in Kyiv over its EU aspirations and potential repayment of US aid.
Ukrainian officials discussed the nearly 60-page draft with US counterparts on March 28, seeking clarifications. Washington didn’t dismiss Kyiv’s concerns, suggesting openness to negotiation.
Lawmaker Yaroslav Zheleznyak called the terms “downright horrible,” criticizing the lack of security guarantees.
Zelensky stressed the need for legal review and parliamentary ratification, stating, “America is now changing these rules and immediately offering a full agreement, and a full agreement requires detailed study.”
He was expected to sign an earlier version on Feb. 28 during his tense White House meeting with Trump, but the signing never happened.
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