Unrepentant Trump sets Christmas deadline for Zelensky | World | News
In a separate, wide-ranging interview, Trump expressed his belief that Ukraine would eventually submit to Russia unless a deal was signed.
He also criticized European leaders for their failure to end the war, calling them “weak” and accusing them of presiding over a “decaying” continent plagued by illegal immigration and political correctness.
Washington is pressuring Kiev to give up territory in exchange for undefined security guarantees, Ukrainian officials told The Telegraph.
Despite this, Zelensky suggested on social media Tuesday night that he was working “very actively” with his European allies to draft a proposal to end the war.
Zelensky considers holding elections under martial law
Seeking to respond to Trump’s claim that Kiev was subverting democracy, Zelensky told reporters that he had asked officials to prepare plans to hold elections under martial law within 60 to 90 days.
While Ukrainian law currently prohibits elections during martial law, Zelensky has stated that such elections could be held if the United States and Europe provide security guarantees regarding the vote, given Russia’s history of interfering in European elections.
Trump: Russia has the upper hand
Trump told the news site Politico that Russia has always had an advantage in conflict because of its size and power. He acknowledged the courage and fighting spirit of the Ukrainian people and army, but emphasized that “at some point, overall greatness will win.” Asked what would happen if Zelensky rejected the latest US offers, Trump said: “Then he’ll have to get in the game and start accepting some things. You know, when you lose, because he loses.”
Since his meeting with Trump’s envoys, Zelensky has visited London, Brussels and Rome to drum up support from his European allies. “To be honest, Americans are looking for a compromise today,” he told reporters on Monday.
The White House had previously approved a 28-point plan demanding Ukraine unilaterally withdraw from the eastern Donbas regions of Donetsk and Luhansk as the price of ending the war. While Ukrainian negotiators warned that this would be unacceptable, they did not rule out the possibility of giving up territory if Russia was willing to make “mutual” concessions.
Ukraine wants strong security guarantees
European officials believe Kiev is forced to choose between accepting unacceptable territorial demands and a US alliance it cannot afford to lose.
Ukrainian negotiators feel they have not been provided with enough detail about Washington’s potential security guarantees to make decisions on territory.
Kiev has demanded a guarantee similar to NATO’s Article 5 commitment, which would ensure that the United States would come to its aid if Russia launched another invasion. Instead of a presidential decree, Ukraine is seeking an agreement, such as the US-South Korea defense pact, that can be approved by the Senate and that future American presidents cannot ignore.
