Trump criticizes Zelensky over refusal to accept Russian control of Crimea

WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump has accused Volodymyr Zelensky of harming peace negotiations, after the Ukrainian president said Kyiv would not recognize Russian control of Crimea.

Writing on Truth Social, Trump claimed a deal to end the war was "very close", but that Zelensky's refusal to accept US terms "will do nothing but prolong" the conflict.

Earlier, US Vice-President JD Vance laid out the US vision for a deal, saying it would "freeze the territorial lines [...] close to where they are today".

Ukraine has long said it will not give up Crimea, which was illegally annexed by Russia in 2014.

Vance said the deal would mean Ukraine and Russia "are both going to have to give up some of the territory they currently own".

The administration has yet to publicly offer specifics about what geographic concessions would have to be made.

Zelensky immediately shot down the idea of a proposal including Crimea.

"There's nothing to talk about here. This is against our constitution," he said.

Later, after Trump called Zelensky's remarks "inflammatory", the Ukrainian president said: "Emotions have run high today."

Recognizing Russia's illegal occupation of Crimea would not only be politically impossible for Zelensky to accept, it would also be contrary to post-war international legal norms that borders should not be changed by force.

In his statement about today's emotions, Zelensky attached a 2018 letter from then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that said the US rejected Russia's occupation and called on the country to end it.

The comments from Trump and Zelensky are the latest chapter in an often fractious relationship.

In February, the pair clashed in a fiery meeting in the Oval Office.

After Trump's remarks, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said: "The president is frustrated. His patience is running very thin."

Vance warned on Wednesday that the US would "walk away" from its deal-making role if Russia and Ukraine do not come to an agreement - echoing comments last week by Trump and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

US officials also pulled out of a London meeting to focus on talks in Moscow, as the pace of diplomacy to end the war quickens.

The London talks between officials from the UK, France, Germany, Ukraine and the US aimed at securing a ceasefire were downgraded this week after Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff pulled out.

Instead, Trump's Ukraine envoy Gen Keith Kellogg attended the talks in London, and Witkoff will head to Russia to meet President Vladimir Putin for the fourth time. (Source: BBC News)