Former U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday he does not consider Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s presence essential in negotiations to end the war in Ukraine.
“I don’t think he’s very important to be in meetings,” Trump stated in an audio interview with Fox News, criticizing Zelensky’s role in the ongoing conflict.
Trump claimed Zelensky had been in talks for three years without achieving progress, adding that Ukraine’s leadership made negotiations difficult.
The former president suggested that Ukraine lacks leverage in discussions, stating, “They don’t have any cards, but they play it tough.”
Trump also highlighted his own diplomatic experiences, saying, “I’ve had very good talks with Putin, and I’ve had not such good talks with Ukraine.”
Speaking at a gathering of U.S. governors at the White House, Trump said the war cannot be allowed to continue.
Kyiv and European leaders have expressed frustration over being sidelined after Trump initiated discussions with Moscow to end the war.
This week, Russian officials met with top diplomats in Saudi Arabia for ceasefire talks, but Ukraine was not invited to participate.
Tensions escalated further when Trump referred to Zelensky as a “dictator” and falsely claimed Ukraine had started the war.
“He complains that he’s not in a meeting with Saudi Arabia, but he’s been in meetings for three years,” Trump said.
The war in Ukraine began in 2022 with Russia’s full-scale invasion, and efforts to broker peace remain contentious.