Trump calls out both Putin and Zelensky over ceasefire talks

US President Donald Trump criticized both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday, expressing frustration over stalled ceasefire talks in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.

Trump initially lashed out at Putin for questioning Zelensky's credibility as a negotiating partner, saying he was "very angry, pissed off" with the Russian leader. However, Trump later softened his stance on Putin and shifted his criticism towards Zelensky, warning that Ukraine would face "big, big problems" if Zelensky backed out of a deal granting US companies exclusive access to Ukraine's rare earth minerals.

Trump has been trying to broker a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia, with the US president pushing Zelensky to sign an agreement for US firms to control Ukrainian mineral resources. Trump had earlier expressed his frustration to NBC News reporter Kristen Welker, saying he was angry over Putin’s remarks about Zelensky and his threat of secondary tariffs on companies dealing with Russian oil.

While flying back to Washington from his Mar-a-Lago resort, Trump again spoke to reporters, calming down some of his earlier criticism. "I was disappointed in a certain way," he said, referring to Putin's comments about Zelensky. "When he considers Zelensky not credible, he's supposed to be making a deal with him. Whether you like him or not, that's the reality."

Trump also addressed Zelensky’s potential withdrawal from the mineral deal. "I see he's trying to back out of the rare earth deal. And if he does that, he's got big, big problems," Trump said. "We made a deal, and now he's saying, well, I want to renegotiate it. He wants to be a NATO member, but that was never going to happen. So if he's looking to renegotiate, he's got big problems."

Despite his push for a swift end to the war, Trump’s administration has not yet succeeded in facilitating a breakthrough, even after negotiations with both sides. Putin rejected a joint US-Ukrainian proposal for a 30-day ceasefire, and on Friday, he suggested Zelensky’s removal from office could be part of the peace process.

Relations between Washington and Moscow have warmed since Trump’s return to office, and his threats to stop supporting Kyiv have strengthened Russia’s position in the conflict. Ukraine accuses Russia of dragging out talks without intending to halt its offensive, with continued attacks on cities like Kharkiv. Recent strikes in the northeastern city killed at least two people and wounded personnel at a military hospital.

Russian forces have also captured a village just seven kilometers from Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk region, marking their latest advance. While they haven't yet crossed the region's boundary, Moscow has been pushing forward in hopes of a breakthrough.

Putin, who has been in power for 25 years, has frequently questioned Zelensky's legitimacy, particularly as his initial five-year term is set to expire in May 2024. Under Ukrainian law, elections are suspended during major military conflicts, and Zelensky’s domestic opponents have insisted that no elections should be held until after the war.

Trump has had a tense relationship with Zelensky, calling him a "dictator" and clashing with him in a live White House confrontation last month. Meanwhile, Zelensky, in his evening address on Saturday, continued to rally international support against Putin, saying, "For too long, America's proposal for an unconditional ceasefire has been on the table without an adequate response from Russia. There could already be a ceasefire if there was real pressure on Russia."

This article was reported by journalist Jimmy.