The White House responded to the scandalous statement made by former U
S. President Donald Trump regarding Ukraine and its leadership, in particular President Volodymyr Zelensky, and expressed its position on the situation surrounding negotiations amid the ongoing war. White House spokesperson Caroline Leavitt stated during a regular briefing on April 23 that Trump is "desperate" and that his "patience is wearing thin" concerning the current situation around the Ukraine-Russia conflict. She urged Ukrainian authorities to refrain from public comments about negotiations and to focus on the long-term diplomatic process — a behind-closed-doors negotiation process, which, according to her, is the only path toward achieving a just peace. Leavitt also emphasized separately that the U.S. does not require Ukraine to discuss the recognition of Russia's annexation of Crimea. She stated that the main goal of the American side is to get both parties to sit at the negotiating table, understanding the seriousness and complexity of the situation. "President Trump calls for a complete cessation of hostilities and the search for a compromise, as the war continues and has already caused too many casualties and destruction. To achieve lasting peace, both sides must be willing to make concessions, and, unfortunately, as of today, President Zelensky seems to be heading in the wrong direction, which complicates the diplomatic process," Leavitt noted. The spokesperson pointed out that the U.S. is already investing significant resources and efforts to stop the military conflict, but now Trump is disappointed and his "patience is running out." She stressed that the key goal remains ending the violence, but for this to happen, both Ukrainian and Russian sides must demonstrate a willingness for compromise and negotiations. It should be noted that prior to this, Donald Trump’s administration provided the Ukrainian delegation in Paris last week with a one-page document containing a proposal deemed "final" for a peaceful settlement of the conflict. Reports indicate that among the assumptions in this document are the recognition by Russia of control over Crimea and even the easing of sanctions against Moscow. This elicited a sharp reaction from Ukrainian officials, particularly Zelensky, who, in a prior official statement, emphasized that Ukraine categorically does not recognize Russian annexation of Crimea. This caused additional tension in diplomatic circles and had a negative impact on efforts toward further compromise. Statements from the President’s Office and political analysts regarding this situation indicate internal uncertainty and a complex diplomatic process ongoing around resolving the conflict and regaining occupied territories. Previously, there were mentions of U.S. interests in compromise solutions, but the official tone from Washington is becoming increasingly restrained and critical of the actions taken by both Ukrainian authorities and Russia. It is worth recalling that Donald Trump’s assertions about the necessity of a "hard" compromise and the emphasis that "Crimea was lost many years ago" have been sharply criticized by Ukrainian politicians and international analysts, who highlight the risks and consequences of such approaches. They focus not only on Crimea but also on strategies for peace and stability in the region, including the formation of donor and military alliances. Thus, the situation surrounding Ukrainian-American diplomatic relations remains complex and tense. The remarks of the former U.S. leader and the White House's reaction clearly show that the American leadership aims to preserve the diplomatic negotiation format and warns of risks stemming from Ukraine’s side, which could complicate the process of peace and regional stabilization through public statements and political discourse. Whether U.S. and Ukrainian approaches will change in the near future remains to be seen. But it is already evident that diplomacy and an understanding of the importance of behind-closed-doors negotiations are becoming the main tools for seeking long-term conflict resolution and restoring peace.