New US plans cause shock: "Has the US ever had a dumber president than Trump?"

Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger New US plans cause shock: "Has the US ever had a dumber president than Trump?" David Schmitz • 9 hours • 6 minutes read Donald Trump has caused a stir, criticism, and outrage with new statements about Russia's war against Ukraine. On Thursday night, the US president declared that a "deal" with Russia to end the war was within reach – and again made serious accusations against Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. "I believe we have a deal with Russia," Trump said in Washington, without providing further details on the alleged agreement. There was no direct reaction from Kyiv or Moscow as of Thursday morning. Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin did not mention Trump in his statements. Donald Trump launches a tirade at Volodymyr Zelensky However, the US president once again attacked his Ukrainian counterpart. "We must reach an agreement with Zelensky," demanded Trump, who had shortly before launched a tirade against Zelensky on the platform Truth Social, accusing the Ukrainian of prolonging the war with inflammatory statements. The Ukrainian president, however, rejected Trump's line again on Thursday and made it clear that Ukraine would not give up the Russian-annexed Black Sea peninsula of Crimea for "peace." Zelensky rebuts with reference to US Crimea declaration "Ukraine will always act in accordance with its constitution, and we are absolutely certain that our partners – especially the US – will abide by its strong decisions," Zelensky said in a statement published on Telegram and on the platform X on Wednesday evening – indirectly countering Trump. He also cited the 2018 US Crimea declaration, which called on Russia to withdraw from Crimea, which under international law belongs to Ukraine. The US President had previously accused Zelensky of prolonging the war with his refusal. "If he wants Crimea, why didn't they fight for it 11 years ago when it was handed over to Russia without a shot being fired?" Trump ranted on Truth Social. It was Zelensky's inflammatory statements like these that made it difficult to end the war. "This statement is very damaging to the peace negotiations," Trump said. Donald Trump threatens Ukraine with loss of more territory Trump later said he thought it would be easier to negotiate with Zelensky. "It's been harder up until now, but that's okay." The US President also warned the Ukrainian that, given the dire situation, he could lose even more territory. "He can have peace, or he can fight for another three years before he loses the whole country," the US President threatened. Zelensky was a man "without cards" and should accept a "peace deal," Trump said. Russia is demanding that Ukraine renounce Crimea and four other regions – as the only way to make peace in the war that Moscow has been waging against its neighbor for more than three years. Trump, who has been cozying up to Moscow since taking office, has recently largely accepted Russia's demands. Trump's rumored "peace plan" meets Putin's wishes On Wednesday, a "peace plan" circulated from Washington, which is said to comprise seven points and would fulfill almost all of Russia's war aims. According to consistent reports from "Axios" and "The Telegraph," it also envisages the handover of most of the territories occupied by Russia, and Ukraine would also have to renounce NATO membership. According to the plan, US sanctions against Russia are to be lifted. In return, Ukraine is to receive security guarantees. However, these are to be provided by other countries, according to the vague US plans. Kiev, meanwhile, has already made it clear several times that it will never recognize the occupied territories as Russian. The Ukrainian constitution does not permit this step at all. The claim to the occupied territories is enshrined there, as is the intention to join NATO. Clear signals from Moscow: Kremlin doesn't want a compromise Meanwhile, there were no messages from Moscow on Wednesday indicating that an agreement could actually be reached, as Trump claimed. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated in an interview with the French magazine "Le Point" that Ukrainian troops would have to withdraw from the territories annexed by Russia if Kyiv wanted peace with Moscow – thus reaffirming Russia's maximum demands. Moscow continues to claim territories controlled by Ukraine, including the major cities of Kherson and Zaporizhia. Peskov also cited Russian conditions as the reason why Moscow rejected a ceasefire because it would not have met "all Russian demands." If Ukraine withdraws from the territories Moscow calls "Novorossiya" ("New Russia"), the war will "end immediately," Peskov further stated – leaving no doubt that Moscow remains unwilling to compromise. "This is not a peace plan, but a surrender plan for Ukraine." In light of the US plans, which are extremely advantageous for Russia, sharp criticism was once again voiced in Europe. "Trump's peace plan requires Ukraine to accept the Russian occupation – this is not a peace plan, but a surrender plan for Ukraine," commented Estonian politician Marko Mihkelson, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, on the latest ideas from Washington. "If the Ukrainians wanted to surrender, they could do so without Trump's help," was the caustic comment of former Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis on Platform X. FDP politician Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann also commented on Trump's plans. "A deal is being made at Ukraine's expense," she told "Welt." The US president is "preparing the bed that Russia will jump into," the FDP politician added. Harsh criticism of Trump: "The greatest appeasers of evil" Former Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt also had strong words. If Trump and his cabinet "abandon Ukraine and unleash Russia, they will go down in history as the greatest appeasers of evil the civilized world has ever seen," Verhofstadt wrote on X, demanding a decisive response from European supporters of Ukraine. Trump is also facing strong opposition at home. "This is not a deal, this is a capitulation," Jason Crow commented on reports about the White House's plans. "Trump and Vance are doing Putin's bidding," the Democratic congressman added on X. "Forcing an occupied country to accept a dictator's terms and threatening to withdraw is hardly a negotiation." Opposition also in the USA: "This is a capitulation" Michael McFaul, former US ambassador to Moscow, also had a negative opinion of the US government's actions. Recent events demonstrate "the poor performance of Trump's negotiating team," McFaul wrote on X. "Appeasement without any quid pro quo only fuels new demands for further concessions," warned the former top diplomat. The criticism of Trump from political experts is equally clear. "Trump has a 'deal with Russia' that takes over the Russian position," commented Cologne foreign policy expert Thomas Jäger on X. Trump's plans cause dismay among Russia experts Anders Åslund, a Swedish Russia expert and former advisor to former Russian President Boris Yeltsin, chose even more drastic words. "Has the US ever had a dumber president than Trump?" the Swede asked on social media. Meanwhile, Russia reaffirmed its war course overnight, without using words to justify it – and targeted Ukraine with massive airstrikes. A total of 215 missiles and drones of various types were fired by Russia at Ukraine overnight, Kyiv reported. Moscow underlines its warlike course: Deaths in heavy attacks on Kyiv The capital Kyiv was reportedly the focus of the heavy Russian attacks. According to authorities, nine people were killed in the attacks, and 70 others were injured. As of this morning, people were still being searched for under rubble. According to Ukrainian media reports, a man was freed from the rubble of a collapsed building after six hours. "Following Trump's attack on Zelensky, Putin launched the deadliest missile attack on Kyiv's residential areas in months, killing several people and injuring many more," Ukrainian-born journalist Yaroslav Trofimov commented on the latest attacks – and recalled that Trump recently rejected "Ukraine's request" to purchase additional air defense missiles from the US. Former US Ambassador Michael McFaul also spoke to X again following the latest attacks – sounding almost desperate. "Putin is a terrorist. Why doesn't Trump recognize this obvious fact?" was his comment on the US president's actions.