In an interview with news website Politico, US President Donald Trump said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was "losing" the Russia-Ukraine war. Photo / Getty Images
In an interview with news website Politico, US President Donald Trump said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was "losing" the Russia-Ukraine war. Photo / Getty Images
Donald Trump has told Ukraine to accept his peace proposal because Russia is winning the war.
The US President suggested his approach to settling the war was in contrast to that of the Europeans, who he claimed would let Kyiv fight “until they drop”.
In an interview, he accused continentalleaders of failing to adequately support Ukraine, calling some “real stupid”, as well as claiming that under Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, the English capital had been ruined by “unchecked, unvetted” migration.
His scathing criticism of Europe emerged after British Prime Minister Keir Starmer hosted Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy, France’s Emmanuel Macron and Germany’s Friedrich Merz for crisis talks on how to end the war.
“Russia has the upper hand, and they always did. They’re much bigger. They’re much stronger in that sense,” Trump told the Politico news website. “I give the people of Ukraine and the military of Ukraine tremendous credit for the bravery and for the fighting and all of that.
“But you know, at some point, size will win, generally. And this is a massive size, when you take a look at the numbers, I mean, the numbers are just crazy.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz outside Number 10 Downing Street, London, following a meeting as discussions on ending the war in Ukraine continue. Photo / Getty
Asked what would happen if Zelenskyy rejected the latest US proposals, the President replied: “Well, he’s going to have to get on the ball and start accepting things. You know, when you’re losing, because he’s losing.”
Trump’s words demonstrate the tough challenge faced by Ukrainian and European officials in arguing for Washington’s backing for any peace deal to be more favourable to Kyiv.
It appears that Vladimir Putin, Russia’s President, has the upper hand in an information battle between Moscow and Europe for the US President’s support.
Zelenskyy and his European allies have attempted to work constructively with the White House’s proposals so as not to appear to be the main blockage to any deal.
But now Ukrainian officials fear that the Kremlin is winning, having positioned European leaders, including the Prime Minister, French President and German Chancellor, as the key obstacle.
Trump expressed belief that European leaders would continue their support for Ukraine’s armed resistance aimlessly “until they drop” or suffered a military defeat. “I mean, look, then they should support it. Europe ... I’m friendly with all of them. I mean, I like all of them. I have no real enemy,” he said.
“I’ve had a couple that I didn’t like over the years. I actually like the current crew. I like them a lot. I know them really well. Some are friends. Some are OK. I know the good leaders. I know the bad leaders. I know the smart ones. I know the stupid ones. You get some real stupid ones, too. But they’re not doing a good job. Europe is not doing a good job in many ways.”
Trump said European leaders “talk but they don’t produce” and, asked whether he thought the Europeans were doing the right thing, he added: “Well, they can’t be doing too right because look what’s happened.”
His intervention also highlighted growing tensions between Washington and European capitals away from Ukraine.
A recent national security strategy document published by the White House called for “cultivating resistance” in Europe, claiming that the continent was blocking peace talks for Ukraine and risked “civilisational erasure” because of illegal migration and low birth rates.
“Europe is a different place,” Trump said when questioned about the 33-page document. “And if it keeps going the way it’s going, Europe will not be ... in my opinion, many of those countries will not be viable countries any longer.
“Their immigration policy is a disaster. What they’re doing with immigration is a disaster. We had a disaster coming, but I was able to stop it.
“If you take a look at Paris, it’s a much different place. I loved Paris. It’s a much different place than it was. If you take a look at London, you have a mayor named Khan. He’s a horrible mayor. He’s an incompetent mayor, but he’s a horrible, vicious, disgusting mayor. I think he’s done a terrible job.
“London’s a different place. I love London. And I hate to see it happen. You know, my roots are in Europe, as you know.”
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