The US President Donald Trump has accused Ukraine of showing “zero gratitude” for his efforts to end the war in the region.
In a post to his social media platform Truth Social, the president claimed to have inherited a war “that should have never happened,” and went on to call out Europe for purchasing Russian oil.
“UKRAINE “LEADERSHIP” HAS EXPRESSED ZERO GRATITUDE FOR OUR EFFORTS, AND EUROPE CONTINUES TO BUY OIL FROM RUSSIA,” wrote Trump.
“THE USA CONTINUES TO SELL MASSIVE $AMOUNTS OF WEAPONS TO NATO, FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UKRAINE (CROOKED JOE GAVE EVERYTHING, FREE, FREE, FREE, INCLUDING “BIG” MONEY!). GOD BLESS ALL THE LIVES THAT HAVE BEEN LOST IN THE HUMAN CATASTROPHE!”
The president’s post comes as the UK joins talks in Geneva to dicsuss the peace plan proposed by the US, with cabinet minister Heidi Alexander suggesting on Sunday allies of Ukraine must “open up space for meaningful negotiations.”
The head of the Ukrainian delegation, presidential chief of staff Andrii Yermak, wrote on social media that they held their first meeting with the national security advisers from the UK, France and Germany.
“The next meeting is with the US delegation. We are in a very constructive mood,” Yermak said. “We continue working together to achieve a lasting and just peace for Ukraine.”
The 28-point blueprint drawn up by the US to end the nearly four-year war has sparked alarm in Kyiv and European capitals.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said his country could face a stark choice between standing up for its sovereign rights and preserving the American support it needs.
Zelensky posted on X: “The Ukrainian and American teams, as well as the teams of our European partners, are in close contact, and I do hope that there will be a result.
“The bloodshed must be stopped, and we must ensure that the war is never reignited.”
National security adviser Jonathan Powell is to meet US, Ukrainian and European counterparts in Geneva on Sunday, with special envoy Steve Witkoff and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expected to attend for Washington.
Sir Keir Starmer and other leaders have pushed back against the US-drafted plan for Ukraine, raising concerns about proposals to make Kyiv limit its armed forces and give up territory and its path to Nato membership.
They called Washington’s plan drawn up secretly with Moscow “a basis” that requires further work in a joint statement on Saturday after talks at the G20 in South Africa.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander echoed this, telling Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips: “We have been clear that there are elements of the peace plan that he has proposed that are essential for a just and lasting peace.
“It does require some additional work.”
Alexander said allies of Ukraine need to “find a way to secure that ceasefire and open up space for meaningful negotiations”.
The Transport Secretary insisted the UK’s voice “does count” with Washington, adding: “Our relationship with the US is one of seeking to influence to facilitate that dialogue with other global leaders.”
The inclusion of an article five security guarantee – Nato’s mutual defence provision under which an attack on one member is an attack on the entire bloc – is seen as “integral and significant” to Washington’s plan, it is understood.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Warsaw was ready to work on the plan with the leaders of Europe, Canada and Japan, but also said that it “would be good to know for sure who is the author of the plan and where was it created.”
Starmer has said this security guarantee and his one-on-one discussions with Trump on Ukraine make it clear to him that the US leader wants a “just and lasting peace”.
The Sunday talks will see national security advisers “go through quite a bit of detail”, the prime minister has said.
He and Trump agreed their teams would work together on the president’s peace proposal during a phone call on Saturday, according to Downing Street.
The conversation came after Starmer spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and reiterated the UK’s “steadfast support” for Kyiv.
Trump, who shunned the G20 summit, initially suggested he wanted a Ukrainian response by Thursday.
But he has since signalled there is some room for negotiation in Geneva, saying “no” when asked whether his proposals are final.
The US State Department has rejected claims from senators who said Rubio told them the plan was a “wish list” from Russia.
“This is blatantly false. As Secretary Rubio and the entire Administration has consistently maintained, this plan was authored by the United States, with input from both the Russians and Ukrainians,” a spokesman posted on X.
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