US President Donald Trump criticized his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday evening, accusing him of not having “read” the peace proposal presented three weeks ago that is the subject of separate talks between Washington, Moscow, and Kyiv.
“So we talked to (Russian) President (Vladimir) Putin, we talked to Ukrainian leaders–especially Zelensky, President Zelensky–and I have to say that I’m a little bit disappointed that President Zelensky hasn’t yet read the proposal” from the American government to resolve the war in Ukraine, Trump said when asked by reporters during an event in the US capital.
“This serves Russia, you know I think Russia would prefer to take the whole country,” but “I’m not sure it serves Zelensky,” Donald Trump added.
.@POTUS: “I have to say that I’m a little bit disappointed that President Zelensky hasn’t yet read the [peace] proposal.” pic.twitter.com/IYvbjCXcJF
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) December 7, 2025
“Difficult issues remain” on Ukraine
These comments came as talks between American and Ukrainian negotiators regarding a proposed peace agreement with Russia concluded in Miami this weekend, with few new developments and persistent questions about security guarantees and territorial issues, according to Ukrainian officials. As the talks concluded, the Kremlin welcomed US President Donald Trump’s new security strategy, saying it abandons the language of previous American administrations that described Russia as a threat.
The marathon meeting in Miami began Thursday between US special envoy Steve Witkoff, President Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, and Ukrainian officials Rustem Umerov and Andriy Knatov. After three days of talks, “difficult issues remain,” Ukraine’s ambassador to the US, Olga Stefanishina, said Saturday, “but both sides continue to work on shaping realistic and acceptable solutions.”
Guarantees for territory and security remain long-standing sticking points for any potential agreement. Ukraine maintains that a just end to the war would include credible security guarantees and would not force it to surrender more territory to Russia. As meetings began earlier this week, President Vladimir Putin told reporters in India that his country intends to capture Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region by any means.
Zelensky’s intervention and the new London meeting
In a social media post on Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he had a “long” and “constructive” phone conversation with Witkoff and Kushner, as well as with his Ukrainian delegation in Miami. “We covered many aspects and examined key points that could ensure an end to the bloodshed and eliminate the threat of a new full-scale Russian invasion,” Zelensky said. “We agreed on next steps and forms of dialogue with the United States.”
He also noted “the risk that Russia will not keep its promises, as has happened repeatedly in the past.” Zelensky said that Knatov and Umerov are expected to give him a “detailed in-person report” on the negotiations. “Not everything can be discussed over the phone,” Zelensky said.
“Therefore, we must work closely with our teams on ideas and proposals.” Peace and its terms will also be the subject of a Monday meeting between Zelensky and the leaders of France, Britain, and Germany in London.
The discussion will cover “the situation and ongoing negotiations within the framework of American mediation,” French President Emmanuel Macron said Saturday.
