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Donald Trump rejected efforts by European leaders to build a common front with the Ukrainian president as the fallout from the White House conflict on Friday intensified further.
In Monday's Truth Social Post, Trump said Sunday night that the end of the war with Russia was “very far away,” and warned that America would “not hold back any longer.”
He also suggested that European diplomacy weekends, including a summit in London hosted by British Prime Minister Sir Kiel Starmer and a month-long truce proposed by French President Emmanuel Macron, could not improve Kiev's position.
“This man doesn't want peace as long as he has American support,” Trump wrote, referring to the Ukrainian president. “Europe has said in full at a meeting with Zelenskyy that they cannot work without the United States,” the US president added.
In a statement posted on Kyiv's social media on Monday evening, Zelenskyy said that Kyiv “continues working with his partner.” We have already taken talks and other measures to come soon. ”
The relationship with Zelenskyy fell into condemnation after President Trump and Vice President JD Vance openly criticised the Ukrainian president during an extraordinary public spitting in his oval office on Friday.
The verbal showdown puts the possibility of a peace deal with Russia on terms that Ukraine can agree on, and has issued warnings in many European capitals about Trump's stance on broader commitment to continental security in many European capitals.
SPAT also prevented the US and Ukraine from signing a deal on US access to Ukraine's critical minerals, which Trump deems essential to maintain Washington's support for Kiev.
On Monday, the New York Times reported that the US president met with top Ukraine advisors to discuss halting or canceling aid to the state, increasing concern.
However, White House officials have reduced the importance of the meeting. “There is always a high level of debate among administrative authorities about leading the Ukrainian conflict to a peaceful resolution,” the authorities told the Financial Times.
Trump's national security adviser Mike Waltz urged Zelensky to return to talks with the US as soon as possible, warning that “time is not on his side” and that America's patience is “slight.”
“What we need to hear from President Zelensky is that he regrets what happened, that he is ready to sign this mineral trade and engage in peace negotiations,” Waltz said. “I don't think there's too much to ask. I think that's the perfect way for the American people, the Ukrainian people, Russia and the world to restore stability,” he added.
Zelensky said Monday that Ukraine still “very” wanted “US support on the road to peace.”
The priority is expected to hold further consultations with European leaders this week. Downing Street did not rule out the prime minister traveling to Brussels on Thursday, when EU leaders are holding an emergency summit.
The UK and France have offered to lead a “coalition of will” in supplying the troops to guarantee peace agreements in Ukraine, but they argue that priority must be a US “backstop.”
British officials say it must mean U.S. air force, surveillance and other military support. Priority says that without this there is a risk that Russian President Vladimir Putin will “come back” for more Ukrainian territory.
