Trump Expresses Frustration as Zelensky ‘Hasn’t Read’ His Peace Proposal

US, Dec 08 : US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump arrived on the red carpet at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, even as uncertainty deepened over the administration’s evolving approach to Ukraine peace negotiations.

Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Trump said he was “a little bit disappointed that President Zelensky hasn’t yet read the peace proposal,” signalling rising frustration in Washington over Kyiv’s response to recent diplomatic outreach.

Adding to the tension, Donald Trump Jr., speaking at the Doha Forum, suggested the US could walk away from negotiations altogether. Claiming Ukraine was “far more corrupt than Russia,” he called President Volodymyr Zelensky “one of the great marketers of all time.” Asked whether his father might withdraw from peace talks, he said, “I think he may,” clarifying that it was his personal view and that he has not been involved directly in discussions.

The remarks come shortly after three days of high-level meetings in Miami between Ukrainian and American delegations. While both sides described the talks as productive, Ukrainian officials acknowledged that significant disagreements persist particularly around security guarantees and territorial disputes.

Corruption concerns in Ukraine have resurfaced in recent weeks. Andriy Yermak, a key adviser to Zelensky and a central figure in negotiations, resigned after anti-corruption authorities raided his home in November, deepening scrutiny of the country’s political environment.

Offering his own assessment, Zelensky said peace talks with the US have been “constructive, although not easy.” The Ukrainian president spoke on Saturday with Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and senior adviser Jared Kushner, saying the American side “knows the basic Ukrainian positions.”

Zelensky is expected to continue diplomatic engagements in London today, where he will meet UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

Meanwhile, Moscow reacted positively to Trump’s newly announced national security strategy, saying it “corresponds in many ways to our vision.” The document warns Europe faces “civilisational erasure” and calls for restoring strategic stability with Russia.

Separately, Trump’s outgoing Ukraine envoy said a peace agreement is “really close,” with final hurdles centring on two major points: the future of the Donbas region and control of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant.