Trump issues chilling ultimatum to Ukraine: Make peace with Russia or face total destruction

Donald Trump has delivered a stark warning to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy: negotiate a peace deal with Russia immediately, or risk Ukraine disappearing altogether. The explosive remarks, made on Truth Social and during a Miami business event, have escalated tensions between Washington and Kyiv to a breaking point.

Trump accused Zelenskyy of misleading the US into funding a war that “couldn’t be won” and claimed Ukraine’s leader was prolonging the conflict to keep American money flowing. “Zelenskyy better move fast or he is not going to have a country left,” Trump declared, insisting he alone could broker peace between Moscow and Kyiv.

His attack didn’t stop there. Trump branded Zelenskyy a “dictator without elections,” referencing Ukraine’s decision to delay its 2024 presidential vote due to the ongoing war. The insult sparked an immediate backlash from Democrats, who accused Trump of parroting Kremlin propaganda. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer slammed his words as “disgusting,” while Senator Dick Durbin called it an outright betrayal of Ukraine.

Even some Republicans distanced themselves from Trump’s position. Senator John Kennedy dismissed any suggestion that Ukraine was to blame for the war, making it clear that “Putin started this.” But Vice President JD Vance took a different approach, warning Zelenskyy against criticising Trump publicly. “That’s an atrocious way to deal with this administration,” Vance cautioned, suggesting it would only harden Trump’s stance.

Meanwhile, Trump’s administration has begun negotiating directly with Russian officials in Saudi Arabia—without inviting Ukraine. Kyiv’s frustration has only grown, particularly after Ukraine backed out of a proposed US rare earth minerals deal, citing concerns that it overwhelmingly benefited Washington without providing security guarantees in return. Trump, furious over the move, accused Ukraine of breaking an agreement and disrespecting his Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, who had travelled to Kyiv to finalise the deal.

Behind the scenes, retired US Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, Trump’s special envoy to Ukraine and Russia, has been pushing for a fast resolution to the war. “It’s gone on too long, and the human suffering is immense,” Kellogg said. But for Zelenskyy and his advisers, the sudden shift in US policy has raised alarming questions. “Why should dominance be handed to a country that is an aggressor and a violator of international law?” said Mykhailo Podolyak, a senior aide to Zelenskyy.

The growing hostility between Trump and Zelenskyy has left Ukraine scrambling for diplomatic options. Trump’s insistence on ending the war on his terms—ones Kyiv fears would overwhelmingly favour Moscow—has raised fears that Ukraine could be forced into an unfavourable settlement.

As Trump barrels ahead with negotiations, Zelenskyy faces a bleak choice: accept Trump’s ultimatum and make concessions to Russia, or risk losing crucial US support. In a war that has already claimed thousands of lives, the stakes couldn’t be higher.