NEW DELHI: US President Donald Trump has accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of undermining efforts to reach a peace agreement, following Zelensky’s firm stance against recognising Russian sovereignty over Crimea.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump claimed a peace deal to end the conflict was “very close,” but said Zelensky’s refusal to accept proposed US terms would only “prolong” the war. The statement came after US Vice President JD Vance outlined a potential deal that would “freeze territorial lines close to where they are today.”

Ukraine has long maintained it will not cede Crimea — a region annexed by Russia in 2014 — and Zelensky reiterated that any such concession is unconstitutional and unacceptable. “There’s nothing to talk about here,” he said.

Despite growing US pressure, Zelensky remains resolute. Recognising Russia’s occupation of Crimea would not only be politically untenable in Ukraine but also violate international legal norms established after World War II, which prohibit territorial changes by force.

Meanwhile, Trump, speaking at the White House, expressed frustration with Ukraine’s resistance. “I have no favourites. I just want a deal done,” he said. He also commented that he found dealing with Russia “easier” than with Ukraine and left open the possibility of meeting Zelensky during Pope Francis’s funeral later this week.

Amid diplomatic wrangling, Russia launched fresh missile and drone strikes on Ukrainian cities. In Kyiv, two people were killed and 54 injured — including children and a pregnant woman — in overnight attacks that destroyed residential buildings and triggered fires. In Kharkiv and Marhanets, additional casualties were reported, including nine killed in a drone strike on a bus.

As military violence intensifies, diplomatic momentum has also shifted. US officials abruptly pulled out of a London meeting with UK, French, German, and Ukrainian representatives, choosing instead to focus on talks in Moscow. Trump’s Ukraine envoy Gen Keith Kellogg attended the downgraded London meeting, while special envoy Steve Witkoff is expected to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin again.

Vice President Vance warned that the US could withdraw from mediating the peace process entirely if both sides fail to make concessions. “We’re running out of patience,” added White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.

The war, now in its third year, has already caused hundreds of thousands of casualties and displaced nearly seven million Ukrainians globally. The roots of the conflict trace back to 2014 when Russia annexed Crimea following the ousting of Ukraine’s pro-Russian president.

Despite periodic calls for peace — including a brief Easter ceasefire declared by Putin — fighting continues unabated. UK Defence Secretary John Healey told Parliament that British intelligence found no evidence Russia had honoured the ceasefire, accusing Moscow of using peace talks as a stalling tactic.

With diplomacy and violence unfolding in tandem, the path to a resolution remains uncertain.