On SNS: “The US can no longer tolerate this”
National Security Advisor: “US patience is not infinite”
“Let’s see what happens,” leaving room for interpretation
President Donald Trump criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s statement that “the end of the war with Russia is far off” as “the worst thing he has ever said.” There is speculation that the US might consider withdrawing its military support for Ukraine as a pressure tactic.
On the 3rd (local time), Trump shared an Associated Press article on Truth Social, a social media platform, under the headline “Zelensky said the end of the war with Russia is ‘very, very far away'” and commented, “This is the worst statement Zelensky has ever made.” He warned that “America will no longer tolerate this.”
The strategy of the White House is to hold Zelensky accountable for prolonging the war, in response to his demands for post-war security guarantees. Trump is pressuring Zelensky to accept his peace agreement proposal. He wants Ukraine to repay, with its rare earth metals and other minerals, the military and financial aid provided by the US over the nearly 3 years since the war began. He demands a return of about four times the investment (about $120 billion dollars in aid, seeking to recover $500 billion).
Previously, on the 28th of last month, Trump attempted to sign a mineral agreement between the two countries with Zelensky at the White House but clashed over security guarantees for Ukraine, leading to the collapse of the agreement. Trump then canceled a private meeting, dismissing Zelensky, saying, “Come back when you’re ready to discuss a peace agreement.”
Subsequently, Zelensky attended a European summit held in the UK. According to the AP report, he stated during a briefing in Ukraine prior to the summit that the war between Russia and Ukraine is still “very far” from concluding.
The leverage for negotiation from the White House is the potential withdrawal of military support. In his SNS post, Trump claimed, “As I said, this guy doesn’t want peace (agreement) as long as he has US support.” According to US online media Axios, Trump is set to preside over a meeting on Monday (3rd) afternoon to discuss follow-up measures regarding the Ukraine crisis, during which the possibility of halting US military support for Ukraine could be on the agenda.
The pressure is mounting. Michael Waltz, the White House National Security Advisor, spoke on conservative US Fox News, stating, “Zelensky is not prepared to discuss peace,” adding, “The patience of the American people is not infinite, and our weapons and ammunition are not limitless.”
The White House is even suggesting the possibility of a regime change in Ukraine. In a Fox News interview, Waltz mentioned, “We need a leader (in Ukraine) who can negotiate with the US and eventually negotiate with Russia to end the war.” However, US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, in a CNN interview, responded to the question of whether Trump desires Zelensky’s resignation by saying, “No, he doesn’t interfere in Ukrainian politics. What he wants is to be a peace maker.”
There is, of course, still room left for interpretation. During the announcement of TSMC’s investment in the US, when asked by reporters whether the mineral agreement between the two countries was “dead,” Trump answered, “No, I don’t think so.” In response to whether the US is considering stopping military support for Ukraine, he said, “We haven’t even discussed it yet. Let’s see what happens,” noting that “a lot is happening even as we speak.”