Trump Urges Ukraine's President to Negotiate Peace with Russia Quickly

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President Donald Trump cautioned Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on February 19, 2025, to expedite negotiations to end Russia's invasion or risk losing his country. Trump's comments escalated tensions between the U.S. and Ukraine amid rising criticism of his stance from both Democrats and Republicans. According to Trump, Zelenskyy—a former comedian—has incorrectly leveraged U.S. support, amounting to $350 billion, while he accused the Ukrainian leader of being a "dictator without elections" as Ukraine postponed elections due to the ongoing conflict.

Zelenskyy countered Trump's remarks, claiming they fall into a "Russian disinformation trap." U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer condemned Trump's shift in narrative, asserting it undermines U.S. support for Ukraine amidst the conflict, initiated by Russia's invasion in February 2022. Meanwhile, discussions in Saudi Arabia involving U.S. and Russian officials have reportedly excluded Ukrainian representatives, raising further concerns among Kyiv’s advisers regarding Trump's approach. "Why should dominance be handed over to a country that is an aggressor?" stated Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Zelenskyy.

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