Trump says Zelensky never wanted to end war, suggests another Ukrainian negotiator
In short
Russian outlets reported that Donald Trump wrote on social media that Volodymyr Zelensky does not want to end the war and probably never did. On 19 October Trump told journalists it may be time for Zelensky to put someone else in charge of negotiations for Ukraine.
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Russian outlets reported on 18 and 19 October that US President Donald Trump wrote on his social network that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky does not want to end the war and probably never did. In the quote carried by RIA Novosti and Interfax, Trump cited the money Europe gives Zelensky and the money former President Joe Biden gave in the past. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Meduza added that Trump wrote that Zelensky could have made a better deal two years ago than now. According to Meduza, Trump wrote that Ukraine is in ruins with a significant part of its territory lost, and that its male population has shrunk, with men killed or wounded. [ 5 ]
On 19 October Trump told journalists it was time for someone else to conduct negotiations on behalf of Ukraine. Kommersant quoted him as saying that perhaps Zelensky should put someone else forward, and that if Zelensky had listened to him, Ukraine could have ended the conflict on better terms. Kommersant also said Trump suggested Zelensky does not want to stop the fighting because he does not help much. It recalled that Trump had earlier said Zelensky did not care and had criticised Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries, which he said damage world diesel markets, including in the US. [ 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 ]
Meduza reported that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told NBC News that Zelensky was posing a false dilemma by linking an end to the war with Ukrainian victory. Bessent said ending the war requires negotiated agreements and that Trump works on this daily. He also told Zelensky to be careful and said claims that the US restricted Starlink in Ukraine were untrue. In a Bloomberg interview, Zelensky said pressure was being put on Ukraine, not Russia, to make concessions, and that steps had been taken to persuade Ukraine to capitulate. [ 5 ]
On 20 October RBC, citing the New York Times, reported that at a meeting in Oslo the US side would try to persuade Zelensky to accept territorial concessions in exchange for an agreement with Russia. TASS ran a piece on Trump's words about a new negotiator from Kyiv and on visits by Witkoff. Russian officials and experts also commented: TASS quoted Senator Voloshin as saying Zelensky fears losing power, RIA Novosti reported an explanation by Matviyenko, and TASS quoted expert Protsenko on rising tension between the two presidents. [ 6 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 ]
Why it matters
The coverage shows open public friction between the US and Ukrainian presidents over how to end the war. Russian official outlets paired the reports with commentary from Russian politicians and an expert, while Meduza also carried responses from Zelensky and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
Key facts
- Trump wrote on his social network that Zelensky does not want to end the war and probably never did, citing money from Europe and from former US President Joe Biden. [ 2 , 4 , 5 ]
- Trump said two years ago Zelensky could have made a better deal than now, and wrote that Ukraine's country is in ruins with a significant part of its territory lost, according to Meduza. [ 5 ]
- Speaking to journalists before a flight to Kansas, Trump said it was time for someone else to lead negotiations on behalf of Ukraine, Kommersant reported. [ 12 , 13 ]
- Trump also said that if Zelensky had listened to him, Ukraine could have ended the conflict on better terms, and suggested Zelensky does not want to stop the fighting because he does not help much, according to Kommersant. [ 12 ]
- Bessent told NBC News that Zelensky was posing a false dilemma and that Trump works every day on a negotiated end to the war. [ 5 ]
- Zelensky told Bloomberg that steps had been taken to persuade Ukraine to capitulate. [ 5 ]
- RBC, citing the New York Times, reported that the US side at a meeting in Oslo would try to persuade Zelensky to accept territorial concessions for a deal with Russia. [ 16 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- What the US side will say to Zelensky at the meeting in Oslo. Only RBC, citing the New York Times, describes it, and only in a feed summary.
- Why Zelensky is said not to want peace talks. TASS says Senator Voloshin believes Zelensky fears losing power, and RIA Novosti reports Valentina Matviyenko offered an explanation; these are opinions of Russian politicians and the documents give no detail.
- Whether the US restricted Starlink in Ukraine. Meduza reports Bessent said such statements are untrue; the documents give no other account.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- On 18 October TASS published the first report of Trump saying Zelensky never wanted to end the conflict. [ 1 ]
- On 19 October Interfax published Trump's quote from Truth Social. [ 4 ]
- On 19 October Meduza reported the exchange, including Bessent's and Zelensky's remarks. [ 5 ]
- On 19 October RIA Novosti and TASS reported Trump saying Zelensky does not help end the conflict. [ 7 , 8 ]
- On 19 October TASS reported Trump saying Ukraine should field someone other than Zelensky for peace talks. [ 9 ]
- On 20 October RBC reported the New York Times account of the US message at talks in Oslo. [ 16 ]