Trump Urges Zelenskyy to Prepare for Peace Deal to End Russia-Ukraine War

President-elect Donald Trump has suggested that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy should prepare to negotiate a deal to end the Russia-Ukraine war, downplaying Ukraine's hopes of reclaiming seized territory. Trump’s comments, made Monday at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida, signal a potential shift in US policy regarding the ongoing conflict.

“He should be prepared to make a deal, that’s all,” Trump said, referring to Zelenskyy. “Got to be a deal. Too many people being killed.”

Trump also dismissed the idea of rebuilding Ukrainian cities destroyed by Russia’s invasion, claiming it would take over a century to restore them. “You look at some of those cities, and not one building is standing. It’s nice to say they want their land back, but what are they taking over? That’s a 110-year rebuild,” Trump added.

Criticism of US Support for Ukraine

Trump criticized the Biden administration’s decision to allow Ukraine to use long-range US weapons, including Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS), to strike deeper into Russian territory.
“I don’t think they should have allowed missiles to be shot 200 miles into Russia,” Trump said, reiterating concerns over escalating tensions.

US Aid Under Question

Trump’s remarks indicate a strong likelihood that US support for Ukraine, including military aid, could be scaled back under his leadership. He again stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin would not have launched the invasion if he were still in office.

The Biden administration has maintained its stance that Ukraine must determine when and how to engage in peace talks. “Nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine,” said John Kirby, spokesman for the National Security Council, reiterating that the US will not impose terms on Ukraine.

Meeting with Zelenskyy

Trump briefly referenced his recent meeting with Zelenskyy in Paris but clarified that he had not formally invited the Ukrainian leader to his upcoming inauguration. “If he’d like to come, I’d like to have him. I didn’t invite him, no,” Trump stated.

Describing the war as “nasty” and “astronomical” in terms of human losses, Trump insisted that, had he been president, “that war would have never happened.”

Trump’s comments reflect a significant shift in tone regarding the conflict and raise questions about the future of US involvement in Ukraine as his presidency nears.