Donald Trump is urging Volodymyr Zelensky to agree to a set of new conditions if he wants to put an end to the ongoing conflict with Russia, going as far as acknowledging that Ukraine might not survive regardless.
The fresh terms are to be paired with a proposed mineral agreement that fell apart during tense discussions, leading to a public disagreement in the Oval Office involving Trump, Zelensky, and Vice President JD Vance.
Insiders allege that Trump has intensified his initial demands, insisting that Zelensky schedule an election and possibly resign as president to receive military assistance and intelligence support from the United States.
Trump is also expecting Zelensky to be open to relinquish territory to Russia in the name of striking a peace deal, NBC reports.
‘We want to do anything we can to get Ukraine to be serious about getting something done,’ Trump told reporters on Sunday.
Earlier in the day he was asked about the future of Ukraine and sensationally admitted: ‘Well, it may not survive anyway.’
The huge trio of concessions mark a monumental shift from his initial request, which was for Ukraine to grant the United States a stake in critical mineral resources in exchange for the military aid granted in the fight against the Russian invasion.
It comes as officials from Ukraine and the US meet in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, this week to continue peace talks.
While Zelensky has vowed to work with Trump to get a deal over the line, he has repeatedly warned that Russia will ‘wage war’ on NATO and Europe if given the means to do so.
White House National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes said ‘the Ukrainians have made positive movement’, demonstrated by Trump’s decision to ‘read President Zelensky’s message at the joint session.’
‘With meetings in Saudi this coming week, we look forward to hearing more positive movement that will hopefully ultimately end this brutal war and bloodshed.’
Last month, Trump and Vice President JD Vance hosted Zelensky in the Oval Office, intending to sign a minerals deal which would grant the United States access to key Ukrainian resources in exchange for the past and ongoing military aid to help fight the Russian invasion.
However, the meeting imploded and was abruptly ended, with the US leaders criticizing Zelensky for failing to show enough gratitutde for the tens of billions of dollars America has already funneled into the war.
After the meeting, Trump introduced the freeze on all funding and some intelligence sharing.
Zelensky later described the diplomatic breakdown in the meeting as ‘regrettable.’
He also made clear he was ready to sign off on a minerals deal with the US even without the explicit American security guarantees sought by the Ukrainians.
Russia has been emboldened by Trump’s decision to tank the deal, ramping up attacks on Ukraine in the days that followed.
According to the United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission, Friday was one of the deadliest days for Ukrainian civilians this year. There have been more reported daily casualties in 2025 than in 2024, the agency said.
US authorities maintain these attacks were likely planned well before Trump cut off the aid and stopped sharing intelligence information.
This intelligence information relates to information against Russian targets. The United States is still passing along defensive intelligence and warning Ukraine of impending attacks.
European allies of Ukraine are trying to ramp up support in this area, but the gap has not yet been bridged given America has been providing this assistance for the length of the war.
Speaking on board Air Force One on Sunday, Trump said that most of the intelligence sharing limitations ‘had been lifted.’
But he said Ukraine needs to ‘want peace’ and the end of the war above anything else in order for the war to end.
Asked whether Zelensky has proven that Ukrainians want peace, Trump said: ‘I think right now they haven’t, but I think they will be.
‘I think it’s going to become evident over the next two or three days. This week, hundreds of people died in cities in Ukraine, and we got to get it stopped.
‘It would have never happened if I was president.’
Zelensky has insisted he and his office ‘stand ready to work under President Trump’s strong leadership to get a peace that lasts.’
A former Trump administration Russian affairs expert, Fiona Hill, told CBS news that ‘we can really see the impact’ of Trump’s efforts.
‘It’s certainly, on the one hand, emboldened Russia to really step up the attacks. And it’s also not just blindsided, but also partially blinded Ukraine,’ she said.
While talks are set to resume in the Middle East this week, unnamed sources told Reuters that officials are trying to establish whether Ukraine is interested in ‘a realistic peace.’
‘You can’t say ‘I want peace,’ and, ‘I refuse to compromise on anything,” one insider said.
‘We want to see if the Ukrainians are interested not just in peace, but in a realistic peace.’
Trump earlier conceded he was growing increasingly frustrated with the stalled negotiations with Ukraine.
‘I’m finding it more difficult, frankly, to deal with Ukraine, and they don’t have the cards,’ Trump said.
‘In terms of getting a final settlement, it may be easier dealing with Russia, which is surprising, because they have all the cards.’
Trump and First Buddy Elon Musk have been outspoken in their criticism of Zelensky, particularly slamming his decision to invoke martial law and suspend elections when Russia invaded.
Since the early days of the war, Musk’s Starlink satellite internet system has played a crucial role in maintaining Ukrainian military communications as Russia relentlessly targeted infrastructure across the country.
Musk has previously bristled at suggestions that he isn’t doing enough, and his latest comments underscore his frustration with what he sees as a futile and grinding conflict.
‘What I am sickened by is years of slaughter in a stalemate that Ukraine will inevitably lose. Anyone who really cares, really thinks and really understands wants the meat grinder to stop. PEACE NOW!’ Musk wrote, making one of his most explicit calls to date for an immediate end to the war, even if it means Ukraine making painful concessions.
‘Ukraine needs to hold an election. Zelensky would lose by a landslide,’ Musk added.
But a leading Ukrainian pollster suggests Zelensky’s popularity has actually risen since his public spat with Trump.
The poll by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) showed that 67 per cent of respondents trusted Zelenskiy in March, up from 57 per cent a month earlier.
The survey was conducted from February 14 to March 4, meaning it incorporated public opinion after the February 28 bust up.
