President Trump of the United States and President Zelensky of Ukraine. AFP Yonhap News

On the 23rd (local time), U.S. President Donald Trump, who seeks to end the Ukraine war on terms favorable to Russia, the "aggressor," expressed his dissatisfaction with Ukraine for not actively accepting his peace plan.

President Trump claimed on his social media platform, Truth Social, that day, "The war between Russia and Ukraine is fierce and terrible, and it would never have happened if there had been strong and proper leadership in the United States and Ukraine."

After reiterating his previous assertion that Russian President Vladimir Putin would not have attacked Ukraine if he himself had been elected instead of former President Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election, President Trump expressed his dissatisfaction with Ukraine and Europe.

He added, "Ukraine's leadership has not expressed any gratitude for our efforts, and Europe continues to buy oil from Russia."

Contrary to President Trump's remarks, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly expressed his gratitude for U.S. support and mediation efforts for peace, and has been expressing his gratitude more frequently in public since his clash with President Trump at the White House in February.

Despite this, the background behind President Trump pointing to Ukraine's leadership as a problem could be an intention to pressure them to accept the peace negotiation proposal he presented.

The Trump administration has prepared a 28-point peace plan and is urging Ukraine and Russia to accept it by the 27th, but this plan is assessed as favorable to Russia in terms of territorial issues, and discussions are still ongoing between the United States and Ukraine.

When asked by reporters at the White House the previous day, "What happens if Ukrainian President Zelensky does not accept the plan by the deadline?", President Trump replied, "Then he can continue the war to his heart's content."

Yonhap News