Trump Pushes for Quick Ukraine-Russia Deal

In a surprising move, former U. S. President Donald Trump recently advised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to rush negotiations with Russia to end the ongoing conflict. Trump's advice came with a stark warning: if Zelenskyy doesn't act quickly, he might not have a country left to lead. This advice from Trump is part of a growing tension between the U. S. and European countries over how to handle the conflict in Ukraine. Trump's words have sparked criticism from both Democrats and some Republicans in the U. S. , who have generally supported Ukraine's defense against Russian aggression. Zelenskyy himself has spoken out against Trump's approach, accusing him of falling into Russian disinformation traps. Trump's criticism of Zelenskyy doesn't stop there. In a lengthy post on his social media platform, Trump called Zelenskyy a "dictator without elections. " This claim comes despite Zelenskyy's popularity in Ukraine and his rise from a television star to the country's president. The delay in elections was due to the ongoing war, not a lack of democratic process. Trump also accused Zelenskyy of mismanaging U. S. aid meant for the war effort and taking advantage of the Biden administration. This accusation is part of a broader criticism from Trump about Zelenskyy's handling of the conflict. The U. S. has provided significant financial support to Ukraine since the start of the war, totaling around 183 billion dollars. Trump, who was in Miami for a business meeting, believes that Zelenskyy should have negotiated a deal with Russia earlier. Trump's words have not been well-received by many, including U. S. Senator John Kennedy, who clearly stated that Vladimir Putin started the war. Senator Dick Durbin went even further, accusing Trump of parroting Putin's words and insulting the thousands of Ukrainians who have died in the conflict. The U. S. administration has also expressed frustration with Zelenskyy for not signing off on a proposed agreement to give the United States access to Ukraine's rare earth minerals. The Ukrainians felt the agreement was too focused on U. S. interests and did not offer enough security guarantees in return. Despite the criticism, Trump's special envoy to Ukraine and Russia, retired U. S. Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, understands the human suffering caused by the war. He emphasized that Trump wants to see an end to the conflict.