Almost over? Two sentences have shattered everything

As Blic writes in its analysis, U.S. President Donald Trump stated that he is disappointed in the Ukrainian president, who has neither read the peace proposal nor shown any willingness to accept it.

The response from Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky was clear: “Ukraine cannot give up its territory.”

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And, as Blic writes, it is precisely these two sentences that contain the core of the problem that blocked the negotiations, as well as the truth that many, especially Europeans, are not ready to accept: the end of the war in Ukraine, by all accounts, is not coming anytime soon.

It is recalled that the new cycle of negotiations—and a headache for many—actually began when Trump’s envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, visited Moscow and met with Russian President Vladimir Putin. That meeting lasted five hours.

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At that point, the situation for Ukraine and Zelensky began to further complicate.

By all accounts, Putin continued to insist on full control over Donbas, the Ukrainian region comprising the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics.

Even then, Zelensky stated that he was waiting for the Americans to inform him about what had been discussed in the Kremlin and whether the peace plan proposal had been altered. That information came in the form of a phone call from Witkoff and Kushner.

One thing is certain: those who thought that the quarrel with Trump and J.D. Vance was the worst thing that had happened to Zelensky in recent months were gravely mistaken.

The fateful call from Witkoff and Kushner

AA/ABACA / Abaca Press / Profimedia

According to Ukrainian officials speaking to Axios, Witkoff and Kushner called Zelensky after their meeting with Putin and wanted a clear “yes” on the amended peace plan.

“It seemed as if the U.S. was trying in various ways to convey Russia’s desire to take control of the entire Donbas, and that the Americans wanted Zelensky to accept all of it over a phone call,” the Ukrainian official said.

At that point, it became clear to everyone, including Kyiv, that America wanted a quick agreement on a plan that already existed and which Putin had virtually accepted in full. And how could it be otherwise, given that nearly all of his demands had been met, the article notes.

The key struggle now revolves around two issues:

• Russia’s territorial demands, which Ukraine refuses to accept

• Kyiv’s desire to obtain security guarantees from the U.S., which Washington refuses

This was followed by three days of talks between Ukrainians and Americans in Florida, but the situation behind closed doors is best illustrated by Trump’s anger, which he publicly displayed.

• Five hours after his conversation with Putin, Zelensky’s phone rang: “Volodymyr…”

He claimed that Zelensky was not ready to sign the peace proposal and that he was disappointed because of it.

“I’m a little disappointed that President Zelensky hasn’t read the proposal yet; that was a few hours ago. His people like it, but he hasn’t done it,” Trump told reporters.

The painful words of America’s First Son

EPA/HASNOOR HUSSAIN / REUTERS / POOL

Then his son, Donald Trump Jr., hinted at what many feared: Trump might soon withdraw from efforts to resolve the war in Ukraine.

Although Donald Jr., known in the U.S. simply as Don, holds no official position in his father’s administration, he is a key figure in the MAGA movement.

His statement reflects the negative stance of some members of Trump’s team toward the Ukrainian government and, most importantly, comes at a time when Trump’s negotiating team is pressuring Kyiv to give up territory.

Zelensky makes his own peace plan 

Blondet Eliot/ABACA / Shutterstock Editorial / Profimedia

In the absence of any other option, Zelensky continued his peace tour across Europe, while also mentioning the possibility that Ukrainians and Europeans could now jointly amend the U.S. peace plan, which practically means creating a new one.

This will surely prolong the peace process, which many had hoped would be concluded by the end of 2025, and it will further anger Trump for a simple reason: Ukraine and Russia are taking up the time and resources he wants to use against what he considers America’s greatest adversary—China.