DONALD Trump is warning he won’t bother coming to Europe for Ukraine peace talks unless there’s a real chance of a deal.
The European leaders want a meeting this weekend, but Trump says he needs more clarity before making the trip.
The President told reporters: “We want to know some things before a meeting. We don’t want to waste time.
On Wednesday, Trump held a call with the leaders of France, the UK, and Germany to discuss efforts to reach a peace deal in Ukraine, according to a White House official.
The conversation comes amid rising tensions between the U.S. and European powers over the war in Ukraine and the broader Transatlantic relationship.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is under pressure to accept Trump’s peace plan, which reportedly includes major territorial losses and other concessions.
On Monday, Zelensky met with the leaders of Germany, France, and the UK to deliver a united message: the current U.S. plan is unacceptable.
Trump, meanwhile, has lashed out at European leaders. In a Politico interview published Tuesday, he called them “weak” and defended his new national security strategy that seeks to “cultivate resistance to Europe’s current trajectory.”
French President Emmanuel Macron said the call lasted 40 minutes and focused on advancing diplomatic efforts to end the war.
The German Chancellor’s office said in a statement: “The four heads of state and governments discussed the status of talks on a ceasefire in Ukraine.
“Intensive work on the peace plan is to continue in the coming days. They agreed that this is a crucial moment for Ukraine and for common security in the Euro-Atlantic area.”
Zelensky also held a virtual meeting with a U.S. team led by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
Trump’s adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner joined, along with Steve Mnuchin and BlackRock CEO Larry Fink.
Zelensky wrote on X that he updated the U.S. on his position regarding the latest draft of Trump’s peace plan.
He said: “It is overall security that will determine economic security and underpin safe business environment.”
Zelensky said he expects to deliver an updated peace plan to the U.S. “in the near future.”
European leaders continue talks to ensure Kyiv gets a fair deal.
The Ukrainian President confirmed work is ongoing on a 20-point plan aimed at ending the war.
“Everything must be reliable and dignified for Ukraine,” Zelensky said on X.
“In parallel, we are finalizing work on the 20 points of a fundamental document that could define the parameters for ending the war.
“We expect to deliver this document to the United States in the near future following our joint work with President Trump’s team and partners in Europe.”
On Tuesday, Zelensky said he had hoped to send the revised plan by Wednesday after Trump criticized him for not reading it.
He added that on Thursday there would be a “Coalition of the Willing” meeting to guarantee future security and prevent a recurrence of Russian aggression.
Zelensky also addressed Trump’s claims that Kyiv was delaying elections to cling to power.
“They’re using the war as an excuse not to hold an election,” Trump said. “But they haven’t had an election in a long time. They talk about a democracy, but at some point, it ceases to be one.”
Ukrainian law currently blocks elections under martial law, but Zelensky said they could proceed if security guarantees were in place.
“I’m asking now, and I’m stating this openly, for the US to help me, perhaps together with our European colleagues, to ensure security for the election,” Zelensky said.
“I’ve heard hints that we’re clinging to power, or that I personally am clinging to the presidency. It’s frankly, a completely unreasonable narrative.”
Trump has reportedly set a Christmas deadline for Zelensky to accept his peace plan, delivered by envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff after talks with Vladimir Putin in Moscow.
The President warned that Ukraine would struggle to withstand further bombardment unless an agreement is signed.
He also targeted European leaders, labelling them “weak” and accusing them of presiding over a “decaying” continent consumed by left-wing politics and high levels of illegal migration.
The pressure on Zelensky is compounded by Russian missile strikes, which have killed civilians and hit key rail infrastructure in Ukraine.
A 51-year-old man was killed and two children wounded in Dnipropetrovsk. The day before, four civilians were killed.
Russia temporarily closed Moscow airspace due to Ukrainian drone incursions, forcing flights to reroute to St. Petersburg and Nizhny Novgorod.
Downing Street said Monday’s meeting would “focus on ongoing peace negotiations and next steps.”
Starmer described the talks as a “critical stage of the push for peace.”
Zelensky thanked allies for organizing the meeting. “Things that are very important for today are… unity between Europe, Ukraine, and US. I think it is very important to organise such meetings,” he said.
Pat McFadden, UK Cabinet Minister, said talks would explore ways to ensure Ukraine “is able to decide its own future” and emphasised the need for meaningful security guarantees, not a “toothless organisation.”
The 28-point plan, initially tilted heavily in Moscow’s favour, has been revised to a 20-point framework more acceptable to Kyiv.
The original plan demanded major Ukrainian concessions, including recognition of Russian-held territories, limits on NATO ambitions, and broad amnesty for Russia.
The revised plan softens many provisions but unresolved issues remain over territory, security guarantees, and frozen Russian assets.
Despite Trump’s claims, there is no clear evidence Putin is prepared to accept either version.
Zelensky has described his talks with U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner as “constructive, though not easy.”
