Trump Declines Meeting with Zelensky Until Peace Agreement Reached

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on March 5, 2024, that he will not meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy or Russian President Vladimir Putin until both leaders reach a peace agreement to end the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. This decision follows Ukraine’s acceptance of a peace proposal spearheaded by the United States, aimed at resolving a war that has persisted for nearly four years since Russia’s full-scale invasion.

Trump’s announcement came after U.S. delegations engaged in discussions with both Ukrainian and Russian representatives over the weekend. Zelenskyy emphasized the need for further dialogue, expressing his eagerness to meet with Trump “as soon as possible” to advance a joint U.S.-Ukrainian agreement. Andriy Yermak, Zelenskyy’s chief of staff, conveyed this sentiment in an interview with Axios.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump detailed the stakes involved, stating, “Over the past week, my team has made tremendous progress with respect to ending the War between Russia and Ukraine (A War that would have NEVER started if I were President!).” He highlighted the alarming loss of life, noting that last month alone saw 25,000 soldiers perish due to the ongoing conflict.

The 28-Point Peace Plan, originally drafted by the United States, has reportedly been refined with input from both parties, leaving only a few points of contention. In his effort to finalize this peace plan, Trump has assigned his Special Envoy Steve Witkoff to meet with Putin in Moscow. Concurrently, Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll will engage with Ukrainian officials to facilitate progress.

Trump emphasized his commitment to remain informed on the negotiations, stating he would be briefed on all developments by Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles. He expressed a desire to meet with both Zelenskyy and Putin but insisted that such a meeting would only occur once the peace deal is finalized or nearly complete.

“Thank you for your attention to this very important matter, and let’s all hope that PEACE can be accomplished AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!” Trump concluded in his message.

As this situation remains fluid, further updates are anticipated. The international community continues to monitor developments closely, with hopes for a resolution that can bring an end to the prolonged conflict between Ukraine and Russia.