Former US President Donald Trump has pointed the finger at Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky for the failure to secure a peace agreement to end the war with Russia, in a stark departure from the view of key European allies.
Trump's Controversial Claim on Peace Deal
Speaking from the Oval Office on Wednesday, Trump asserted that it is President Zelensky, not Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is holding up a potential deal to conclude the nearly four-year-long conflict. "I think he's ready to make a deal," Trump said of Putin. "I think Ukraine is less ready to make a deal."
When pressed by Reuters on why US-led negotiations had not yet resolved Europe's largest land war since WWII, Trump responded with a single word: "Zelensky." He offered little elaboration, suggesting only that the Ukrainian president was "having a hard time getting there."
This position directly contradicts assessments from European partners, who have consistently identified Putin as the primary obstacle, ramping up military aggression and rejecting peace proposals from Trump's own envoys.
State of Emergency Amid Relentless Russian Attacks
Trump's comments came just hours before President Zelensky announced he would declare a state of emergency for Ukraine's entire energy sector. This drastic measure follows sustained and repeated Russian attacks on the nation's critical power infrastructure, which have thrown supplies into disarray.
In the Kyiv region, emergency crews are working around the clock in freezing temperatures as low as -15C to restore electricity and heating. The capital's mayor, Vitali Klitschko, described the situation as the longest and most widespread blackouts since the full-scale invasion began.
Residents in areas like Boryspil are enduring extreme hardship, with power restored for only brief periods each day. The strain is so severe that when electricity returns, a surge in usage as people cook, wash, and recharge devices often causes the fragile grid to collapse again.
Diplomatic Moves and Military Aid
Amid the crisis, outgoing Ukrainian Defence Minister Denys Shmyhal revealed that the country received 23 medium- and long-range air-defence systems in 2025, along with 11,000 missiles for them. Shmyhal is expected to be appointed energy minister shortly.
On the diplomatic front, European governments, led by France and Italy, are reportedly pushing for the EU to appoint a special negotiator for talks with Russia. This move is driven by fears that the US, under Trump, could strike a bilateral deal with Moscow that sidelines European security interests, particularly regarding Ukraine's future and NATO ambitions.
Meanwhile, Trump hinted at a potential meeting with Zelensky next week at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, stating, "I would - if he's there." This comes as his envoys are set to travel to Moscow for further peace talks.
