President Donald Trump had an ominous message for Russian President Vladimir Putin after a photo of him meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Rome before Pope Francis’ funeral went viral on Saturday.
“There was no reason for Putin to be shooting missiles into civilian areas, cities and towns, over the last few days. It makes me think that maybe he doesn’t want to stop the war, he’s just tapping me along, and has to be dealt with differently, through ‘Banking’ or ‘Secondary Sanctions?’ Too many people are dying!!!” the president said on Truth Social.
It came hours after the two men met privately for about 15 minutes, which Zelensky said was “potentially historic.”
“Good meeting. We discussed a lot one on one. Hoping for results on everything we covered. Protecting lives of our people. Full and unconditional ceasefire. Reliable and lasting peace that will prevent another war from breaking out. Very symbolic meeting that has potential to become historic, if we achieve joint results. Thank you (President Trump),” he said on X, along with a photo of the two meeting that went viral on the platform.
On Wednesday, Trump blamed Zelensky for standing in the way of a peace deal between his nation and Russia.
“Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, is boasting on the front page of The Wall Street Journal that, ‘Ukraine will not legally recognize the occupation of Crimea. There’s nothing to talk about here.’ This statement is very harmful to the Peace Negotiations with Russia in that Crimea was lost years ago under the auspices of President Barack Hussein Obama, and is not even a point of discussion,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
“Nobody is asking Zelenskyy to recognize Crimea as Russian Territory but, if he wants Crimea, why didn’t they fight for it eleven years ago when it was handed over to Russia without a shot being fired? The area also houses, for many years before ‘the Obama handover,’ major Russian submarine bases,” he continued. “It’s inflammatory statements like Zelenskyy’s that makes it so difficult to settle this War. He has nothing to boast about!”
“The situation for Ukraine is dire — He can have Peace or, he can fight for another three years before losing the whole Country. I have nothing to do with Russia, but have much to do with wanting to save, on average, five thousand Russian and Ukrainian soldiers a week, who are dying for no reason whatsoever,” the president’s post continued.
“The statement made by Zelenskyy today will do nothing but prolong the ‘killing field,’ and nobody wants that! We are very close to a Deal, but the man with ‘no cards to play’ should now, finally, GET IT DONE. I look forward to being able to help Ukraine, and Russia, get out of this Complete and Total MESS, that would have never started if I were President!” he concluded.
On Thursday, Trump also posted criticism of Russia following an apparent attack on the Ukrainian capital: “I am not happy with the Russian strikes on KYIV. Not necessary, and very bad timing. Vladimir, STOP! 5000 soldiers a week are dying. Let’s get the Peace Deal DONE!”
The Rome meeting between Trump and the Ukrainian leader was the first since the two engaged in a fiery exchange at the White House in early March.
Zelensky met with Trump and Vice President JD Vance in the Oval Office in what was reported to precede an announcement about a cease-fire with Russia and the signing of a rare earth minerals deal with the U.S.
But the meeting turned chaotic after Zelensky balked and lectured the U.S. leaders about providing more aid. Days later, Trump slammed the Ukrainian leader for claiming that peace with Russia was “very far away,” warning Zelenskyy that America would “not put up with it for much longer.”
“This is the worst statement that could have been made by Zelensky, and America will not put up with it for much longer!” Trump protested in the aftermath. “It is what I was saying, this guy doesn’t want there to be Peace as long as he has America’s backing and, Europe, in the meeting they had with Zelensky, stated flatly that they cannot do the job without the U.S. – Probably not a great statement to have been made in terms of a show of strength against Russia. What are they thinking?”