WASHINGTON (FN) — Former President Donald Trump ignited outrage across Europe and Washington on Tuesday after reportedly telling Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to “stop playing the victim” and consider surrendering territory to Russia to end the war. The remarks came after what aides described as a “tense and unproductive” private meeting between the two leaders.
According to people familiar with the exchange, Trump pressed Zelenskyy to make what he called a “realistic peace” by recognizing Russian control over parts of eastern Ukraine. The conversation, held at Trump’s Florida estate, grew heated as Zelenskyy pushed back, warning that any concession would “reward aggression and destroy international law.”
Trump, however, doubled down, accusing Kyiv of “bleeding the West dry” with constant appeals for money and weapons. “The United States can’t keep writing blank checks while Americans are struggling,” Trump reportedly said, adding that “smart leaders know when to make a deal.”
The comments drew swift condemnation from both Democratic and Republican lawmakers, who called them “reckless” and “morally indefensible.” European officials privately expressed alarm that Trump’s remarks could embolden Moscow and undermine NATO unity ahead of next year’s U.S. election.
Zelenskyy’s office released a cautious statement afterward, saying Ukraine “will never bargain away its sovereignty” and that “peace cannot be built on surrender.” Still, the Ukrainian leader stopped short of directly criticizing Trump, mindful of the former president’s continued political influence in Washington.
Trump’s remarks mark one of his most explicit breaks yet from U.S. policy, which has consistently backed Ukraine’s territorial integrity since Russia’s 2022 invasion. As he eyes a possible return to the White House, his comments have once again raised questions over whether a second Trump administration would abandon Kyiv — or strike a deal that could redraw Europe’s borders.
