Trump: "Ukraine does not thank U.S. efforts"…pressures ceasefire proposal

U.S. President Donald Trump once again pressured the Ukrainian government to accept a ceasefire proposal while criticizing the Ukrainian government and former U.S. President Joe Biden.

Trump posted on the social media platform Truth Social on the 23rd (local time), once again criticizing his predecessor Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

He claimed, "The war between Russia and Ukraine is fierce and terrible, and it would never have happened if there had been strong and proper leadership in the United States and Ukraine." Trump reiterated, "I inherited a war that should never have happened," and said, "The war between the two countries would not have happened if the 2020 U.S. election had not been rigged."

Trump has argued since before his inauguration this year that if he had won the 2020 election, Russian President Vladimir Putin would not have attacked Ukraine. Having promised to end the Ukraine war since last year's election, Trump pursued a quick end to the war upon taking office by pressuring Ukraine in a manner favorable to Russia.

He even chased Zelenskyy out of the White House when Zelenskyy visited in February last year. When neither side stopped fighting, Trump showed a friendly attitude toward Ukraine starting in April, and after meeting Putin in August he became closer to Ukraine.

When Putin did not cease hostilities even after meeting with him, Trump said last month that he might provide Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles capable of striking the Russian capital.

However, after a call with Putin on the 16th of last month, Trump changed his stance again and pressured Ukraine. He drew up a draft ceasefire with Russia and officially delivered it to Ukraine on the 20th. The ceasefire proposal contained many provisions unfavorable to Ukraine, including ceding territory in eastern Ukraine, disarmament, and giving up membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). In an interview on the 21st, Trump demanded that Ukraine accept his proposal by the 27th.

He said, "Ukraine's leadership has shown no gratitude for our efforts, and Europe continues to buy oil from Russia."

Zelenskyy posted on social media X on the 23rd, saying, "Ukraine personally thanks President Trump, all Americans, and the U.S. support that saved the lives of Ukrainians starting with Javelin missiles." He repeatedly expressed gratitude, saying, "We thank Europe and everyone in the Group of Seven (G7) and the Group of Twenty (G20) who have helped protect our lives," and "We thank the United States. We thank Europe."

Earlier, on the 22nd at the White House, when reporters asked what would happen if Zelenskyy did not accept the ceasefire proposal, Trump said, "Then he can continue the war as he pleases."

Noh Jeong-dong, Hankyung.com reporter dong2@hankyung.com