NBC News: Trump slams Zelenskyy for rejecting Ukraine-Russia negotiations, saying a deal was ‘very close’

High-level talks in London aimed at bringing a pause to fighting in Ukraine disintegrated after Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff pulled out.

President Donald Trump slammed Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday, accusing him of derailing negotiations to end the war in Ukraine while a peace deal was “very close.”

In a long post on Truth Social, Trump described Zelenskyy’s rejection of Russia’s takeover of Crimea, which Russia illegally annexed in 2014, as “very harmful” to achieving peace.

“It’s inflammatory statements like Zelenskyy’s that makes it so difficult to settle this War,” Trump wrote.

Zelenskyy has consistently rejected the suggestion that his country give up its claim to the Crimean Peninsula.

“There’s nothing to talk about here,” he said at a media conference Tuesday. “This is against our constitution.”

It’s “very close” only in Trump’s deranged mind. All parties need to honor the 1990 agreement on the Sovereignty of Ukraine. Russia’s aggression must not be rewarded.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/rcna202525

Telegraph: Trump to let Putin keep land seized from Ukraine

Seven-point plan gives Kyiv no clear security guarantee from the US

Donald Trump will let Vladimir Putin keep almost all the territory he has seized from Ukraine under the terms of a proposed peace deal.

The condition is part of a seven-point plan to end the war that leaves Ukraine with no clear US security guarantee.

It was due to be discussed in London on Wednesday, when US officials would hear Kyiv’s reaction, though the talks were downgraded when US secretary of state Marco Rubio pulled out.

Foreign ministers from the UK, France, Germany and Ukraine withdrew in an apparent response. Discussions were instead scheduled to take place between senior officials from those nations and the US.

The Trump administration’s peace proposal involves the US offering formal recognition of Russian sovereignty over Crimea and implies de facto recognition of other occupied territories.

This would mean freezing the current front line, allowing Putin to keep almost all the territory Russia has gained.

As if it’s King Donald’s decision. My bet is that this “proposal” is Dead on Arrival. Rewarding Russia’s aggression will only invite them back to grab the rest of Ukraine when they think they can get away with it.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/04/22/trumps-plan-to-let-putin-keep-land-seized-from-ukraine

Daily Express: Donald Trump ‘touched’ after receiving ‘beautiful’ gift from Putin

We know where Krasnov’s loyalties lie:

The Kremlin verified on Monday that a portrait of Donald Trump, commissioned by Russian President Vladimir Putin, was gifted to the former U.S. president.

According to Putin’s spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, the painting was presented to Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, in Moscow earlier this month. Peskov confirmed this in response to a journalist’s inquiry but chose not to elaborate further.

The existence of the gift first came to light in an interview between Witkoff and former Fox News host Tucker Carlson last week. During their conversation, Witkoff mentioned that Trump “was clearly touched” by the portrait, describing it as “beautiful.”

Donald Trump ‘touched’ after receiving ‘beautiful’ gift from Putin