“If he wants to, he will destroy you”: Trump persuaded Zelensky to accept Putin’s conditions for ending the war
Фото: REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein
During a meeting in Washington on October 17, U.S. President Donald Trump urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to accept Russia’s terms for ending the war. Trump warned that Vladimir Putin could “destroy” Ukraine if Kyiv did not agree.
This is reported by the Financial Times .
Journalists noted that the meeting at the White House was held in a tense atmosphere and repeatedly escalated into a “fight.” According to people familiar with the situation, Trump constantly swore and insisted that Zelensky agree to Moscow’s proposals.
Although the Ukrainian delegation managed to convince the American president to support a freeze on the current front line, this meeting showed the inconsistency of his position on the war and his tendency to support the Kremlin’s demands.
According to European officials, Trump echoed Putin’s theses, even when they contradicted his previous statements about Russia’s weakness. One official said Trump told Zelensky: “If Putin wants to, he will destroy you.”
During the meeting, the American president tossed aside a map of the fighting in Ukraine, emphasizing that Zelensky must make a deal or face destruction.
Journalists also reported that on the eve of the conversation with Zelensky, Trump received a new proposal from Putin. It provided for the transfer of parts of eastern Donbas to Russia in exchange for small territories of the Kherson and Zaporizhia regions, which are currently controlled by Ukraine.
As the publication notes, this proposal was a concession compared to the previous meeting between Trump and Putin in August in Alaska, where the Russian leader demanded a broader transfer of territories.
Journalists note that Trump’s rhetoric has disappointed Ukraine’s European allies . According to them, he spent most of the meeting lecturing Zelensky, repeating Putin’s arguments and urging him to accept Russia’s terms.
After the talks, Zelensky was “very negative,” European officials said. They added that European leaders remain reserved but are preparing for further steps in the diplomatic process.
It was previously reported that US President Donald Trump continues to take an inconsistent position on the issue of the war that Russia is waging against Ukraine. His fluctuations in rhetoric and decisions are increasingly worrying Washington’s allies.
By the way, the planned meeting between US President Donald Trump and Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin in Budapest has provoked a sharp reaction in the European Union. European diplomats believe that holding negotiations on the territory of an EU member state without the participation of Brussels is a humiliation for Europe and a “political nightmare.”
Recall that US President Donald Trump announced on September 16 that he would meet with the Kremlin leader in Hungary , without specifying the date. According to him, the purpose of the summit is to discuss possible ways to end the war between Russia and Ukraine. This will be preceded by a meeting of high-level advisers. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban offered himself as a mediator during the negotiations.
As is known, preparations are underway in Budapest for a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian dictator Vladimir Putin. Later, it was reported that Hungary does not plan to arrest Russian dictator Vladimir Putin on a warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC) when he arrives in Budapest to meet with US President Donald Trump.
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