Specifically, the US president, through a lengthy post on his Truth Social account, claimed that a peace deal is “very close” but stressed that Zelensky should stop standing in the way of it. “We are very close to an agreement, but the man who has no cards to play should now, finally, DO IT,” Donald Trump said.

“I look forward to being able to help Ukraine and Russia get out of this complete and utter mess that would never have started if I were president!”

Elsewhere in the post, however, Trump strongly criticized Zelensky because his Ukrainian counterpart told the Wall Street Journal that Ukraine would not agree to give up Crimea as part of peace negotiations.

“Nobody is asking Zelensky to recognize Crimea as Russian territory, but if he wants Crimea, why didn’t they fight for it eleven years ago when it surrendered to Russia without a single shot being fired?”