President Trump’s “patience is wearing thin,” White House spokesperson Caroline Leavitt informed reporters on Wednesday regarding negotiations aimed at ending the conflict involving Ukrainian President Voldymir Zelensky and Russia.
“The president’s irritation is palpable. His patience is wearing very thin,” she mentioned at an impromptu gathering in the White House driveway. “He aims to do what is right for the world. He seeks peace. He desires an end to the killing, but you must be prepared for it, yet unfortunately it appears President Zelensky is heading in the wrong direction.”
Trump took to social media to criticize Zelensky in a True Social Post. Earlier on Wednesday, the Ukrainian leader accused him of obstructing peace negotiations with his comments regarding Russia’s annexation of Crimea.
“Ukraine will not officially recognize the annexation of Crimea,” Zelensky stated at a press conference in Kiev on Tuesday. Quote from the Wall Street Journal article Trump referenced in a later post. “There is nothing to discuss here. This violates our constitution.”
Trump expressed online that Zelensky’s statements were “highly detrimental” to negotiations, and Crimea “is not even an issue on the table.”
“No one has urged Zelensky to accept Crimea as Russian land, but if he wanted Crimea, why didn’t they defend it when it was handed over to Russia without a fight?” Trump wrote. “What complicates this war are provocative remarks such as those from Zelenskyy.”
Leavitt emphasized Trump’s observation that Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, three years prior to Russia’s involvement during Trump’s first term.
“As President Trump rightly noted, it was President Obama who surrendered Crimea in 2014, permitting Russia to take control, so the president is not demanding Ukraine acknowledge Crimea,” she stated. “Everyone is requesting a resolution. All he is urging is for people to engage in negotiations and recognize that this war has been brutal for far too long.”
“Both parties must concede a bit, unfortunately, to reach a fair agreement. Sadly, President Zelensky is attempting to litigate this peace negotiation through the media, which the president finds unacceptable,” she continued.
While campaigning for president, Trump consistently claimed that an elected war could be settled in a single day.
However, his administration’s efforts thus far have not yielded success.
The February meeting with Zelensky at the White House quickly followed an outburst in front of reporters, but Trump administration officials are still working towards peace with both nations.
However, Trump indicated last week that if progress does not materialize soon, the US may withdraw from mediating peace.
“If one of the parties continues to be extremely difficult, we are going to say, ‘You’re foolish, you’re foolish, you’re frightening people.’
Leavitt remarked on the point at which Trump might withdraw following the latest tensions with Zelensky.
“This isn’t the end of today, but the president asserts he’s increasingly frustrated and we need to see this resolved,” she stated.
