Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky delivered a sharp rebuke to President Trump this week after the American leader accused Ukraine of dragging its feet on a potential peace deal with Russia. Zelensky stated clearly that his country “will never be a stumbling block for peace,” directly pushing back against the narrative that Kyiv is responsible for stalling negotiations in the ongoing war.
This isn’t the first time the diplomatic relationship between the two nations has been strained, but the public disagreement comes at a critical time. President Trump recently claimed that Russian President Vladimir Putin is actually “ready to make a deal,” but that Ukraine is “less ready.” The president specifically pointed the finger at Zelensky, saying he was the one holding up the negotiation process.
Zelensky took to X and included a video with translated captions to make his position crystal clear, according to The Hill. He said that when Russian attacks leave Ukrainians without power for huge stretches of time, sometimes 20 or 30 hours, it’s obvious who needs the pressure.
Zelensky doesn’t see things the way Trump does
“It is Russian missiles, Russian ‘Shaheds,’ and Russia’s attempts to destroy Ukraine that are clear evidence that it is not agreements at all that Russia is seeking,” Zelensky stated in the video. He emphasized that Russia’s relentless targeting of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure shows exactly where the real obstruction lies. For me, that’s a tough argument to counter. When one side is actively trying to break the other’s basic utilities, it’s hard to believe they’re sincerely ready to sit down and talk peace.
Zelensky also mentioned that he had recently discussed the diplomatic efforts with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, underscoring that Ukraine is still working on international solutions despite the ongoing accusations.
Ukraine has never been and will never be a stumbling block to peace. When Ukrainians are left without power for 20–30 hours because of Russia, and when Russian strikes are aimed at breaking our energy system and our people, it is Russia that must be put under pressure. pic.twitter.com/TguJK3fHok
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) January 15, 2026
It’s important to remember that President Trump made a huge promise during his 2024 campaign: he claimed he would end the war between Russia and Ukraine within the first 24 hours of his second term. This promise has kept the pressure on for a swift resolution, even as the conflict continues to rage.
The history of recent negotiations shows that the two leaders actually have a framework they’ve been working on. Back in December, Zelensky and President Trump met at Mar-a-Lago where both sides reported making significant progress on a 20-point peace proposal.
Ukraine is or will never be a stumbling block for peace. @POTUS wants you to cave to Putin's demands for Trump to say he ended the war. @ZelenskyyUa
— Cynthia Beard (@sunfirefay) January 16, 2026
Read "Zelensky pushes back on Trump: Ukraine isn’t ‘stumbling block to peace’" on SmartNews: https://t.co/pbr33JCuaH #SmartNews
Zelensky stated in December that negotiators had agreed to about “90 percent” of the plan’s framework. The peace plan, which was drafted by the Ukrainian leader, is comprehensive. It outlines security guarantees for Ukraine from both the U.S. and Europe, stipulates Ukraine’s admission into the European Union, and requires joint land withdrawals from both Russia and Ukraine.
Despite the brief moment of cooperation in December, the relationship between the leadership in Kyiv and Washington hasn’t always been smooth sailing. You may recall that there was a major incident in February 2025 where a meeting in the Oval Office reportedly devolved into a shouting match between Zelensky and Vice President Vance.
