PULSE POINTS:

What Happened: President Donald J. Trump has blamed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for sabotaging ongoing peace talks with Russia.

Who’s Involved: President Donald J. Trump, President Volodymyr Zelensky, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Where & When: President Trump reacted to remarks made by Zelensky on April 23.

Key Quote: “It’s inflammatory statements like Zelenskyy’s that makes it so difficult to settle this War. He has nothing to boast about!” Trump stated.

Impact: Zelensky’s remarks make it even more uncertain that a deal will be reached to end the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, as he refuses to recognize Russian control over Crimea.

IN FULL:

President Donald J. Trump is blaming Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for sabotaging the ongoing peace talks to halt the conflict between Ukraine and Russia. On Truth Social, President Trump slammed Zelensky, who stated that he would not recognize Russian control of Crimea.

“It’s inflammatory statements like Zelenskyy’s that makes it so difficult to settle this War. He has nothing to boast about! The situation for Ukraine is dire — He can have Peace or, he can fight for another three years before losing the whole Country,” President Trump wrote.

The President further blames Zelensky for prolonging the killing in Ukraine, saying that the U.S. is close to securing a ceasefire deal that could freeze the conflict on the current lines of contact. Russian President Vladimir Putin has reportedly offered a ceasefire along the current lines of the conflict while a potential deal is being negotiated. Part of Trump’s deal would see the U.S. recognize Russia’s control over Crimea and reject future NATO membership for Ukraine.

Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, long before Zelensky’s election and the current phase of the full-scale conflict between Russia and Ukraine. The region is majority Russian, having only been transferred to Ukraine for administrative purposes by the former Soviet Union in 1954.

White House envoy Steve Witkoff, whom Zelensky insulted just last week, is expected to meet with President Putin in Russia later this week on April 25.

Zelensky, the British, and the French have resisted Trump’s calls for peace in the conflict. French President Emmanuel Macron has consistently floated the idea of sending French troops to Ukraine.

Denmark has already announced it will send troops, ostensibly as observers, which provoked a harsh response from the Russians, who said the NATO troops will be considered legitimate targets.

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