His people loved it, but he's not ready
Em meio a uma guerra que já custou centenas de milhares de vidas, Donald Trump voltou a se apresentar como o arquiteto de uma paz possível — mas a realidade das negociações revela um terreno muito mais instável. Ao criticar publicamente Zelenski por não ter lido a proposta americana, Trump expôs não apenas sua frustração, mas também os limites do poder de persuasão dos Estados Unidos sobre dois beligerantes com visões radicalmente distintas do que seria uma paz aceitável. O gesto de pressão pública, feito diante de jornalistas no Kennedy Center, diz tanto sobre a fragilidade do processo quanto sobre a ambição de quem o conduz.
- Trump declarou publicamente que Zelenski sequer leu a proposta de paz americana, transformando uma tensão diplomática privada em confronto aberto.
- Após três dias de negociações intensas entre equipes americanas e ucranianas, o impasse persiste — e o presidente dos EUA aponta Kyiv, não Moscou, como o obstáculo.
- A afirmação de que a Rússia estaria de acordo com o plano contradiz declarações recentes do próprio Putin, que classificou partes da proposta como inviáveis.
- Zelenski enfrenta pressão crescente de Washington enquanto tenta proteger interesses vitais da Ucrânia — soberania territorial e garantias de segurança — em um acordo cujos termos originais favoreciam Moscou.
- O processo de paz permanece suspenso entre a retórica de Trump e a realidade de dois lados que ainda não encontraram terreno comum.
No domingo à noite, Donald Trump usou uma aparição pública no Kennedy Center, em Washington, para criticar abertamente Volodimir Zelenski. O presidente americano afirmou que o líder ucraniano não havia lido a proposta de paz elaborada pelos Estados Unidos para encerrar a guerra com a Rússia — e que, portanto, não estava pronto para avançar nas negociações.
A queixa de Trump tinha um contorno específico: enquanto os assessores de Zelenski teriam aprovado o plano, o presidente ucraniano em si permanecia alheio ao documento. 'Estou um pouco desapontado que o presidente Zelenski ainda não tenha lido a proposta', disse Trump. 'Seu pessoal adorou, mas ele não leu.' A distinção era deliberada — uma tentativa de separar Zelenski de sua própria equipe e apresentá-lo como o verdadeiro obstáculo à paz.
Trump foi além ao sugerir que Moscou estaria disposta a aceitar os termos, enquanto Kyiv resistia. Mas essa narrativa encontra um problema concreto: Putin não endossou publicamente a proposta americana e, dias antes, havia declarado que partes do plano eram inviáveis — mesmo sendo uma versão que originalmente pendia em favor da Rússia.
O episódio ilumina a fragilidade de todo o processo. A hesitação de Zelenski — provavelmente ligada a preocupações com soberania territorial e garantias de segurança — e o ceticismo de Putin revelam que o abismo entre as partes permanece profundo. A pressão pública de Trump pode ter sido calculada para forçar movimentos, mas também expôs os limites reais da influência americana sobre um conflito que nenhum dos dois lados está disposto a encerrar nos termos do outro.
On Sunday evening, Donald Trump stood before reporters at the Kennedy Center in Washington and delivered a pointed criticism of Ukraine's president. Volodimir Zelenski, Trump said, was not ready to accept a peace proposal the United States had drawn up to end the war between Russia and Ukraine. The complaint came after three days of intense negotiations between American and Ukrainian officials, talks meant to narrow the gap between the two sides over the terms of the American plan.
Trump's frustration centered on a specific grievance: Zelenski had not even read the proposal as of a few hours before the president spoke. "I'm a little disappointed that President Zelenski still hasn't read the proposal," Trump told journalists. "His people loved it, but he hasn't." The distinction mattered. Trump was drawing a line between Zelenski's advisors, who he said had embraced the plan, and the president himself, who remained unmoved.
The American president went further, suggesting that Zelenski was the obstacle to progress. "I believe Russia is in agreement, but I'm not sure Zelenski is," Trump said. "His people loved it, but he's not ready." The implication was clear: Moscow was willing to move forward; Kyiv was dragging its feet.
But the picture was more complicated than Trump's account suggested. Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, had not publicly endorsed the American proposal. In fact, just days earlier, Putin had said that parts of Trump's draft were unworkable, even though the original version had tilted heavily in Moscow's favor. Putin's skepticism undercut Trump's claim that Russia stood ready to accept the terms.
The moment captured the fragile state of negotiations over a war that had already cost hundreds of thousands of lives and displaced millions. Trump had positioned himself as a dealmaker ready to broker peace, but the gap between the parties remained wide. Zelenski's hesitation—whether rooted in concerns about Ukraine's security, territorial integrity, or the terms being offered—suggested that the path to agreement was far from certain. And Putin's public doubts indicated that even if Kyiv moved, Moscow might not follow.
What remained unclear was whether the American proposal could bridge the divide, or whether both sides would find reasons to reject it. Trump's Sunday evening remarks were meant to apply pressure on Zelenski, but they also exposed the limits of American leverage in a conflict where the two combatants held fundamentally different views of what peace should look like.
Notable Quotes
I'm a little disappointed that President Zelenski still hasn't read the proposal. His people loved it, but he hasn't.— Donald Trump
I believe Russia is in agreement, but I'm not sure Zelenski is. His people loved it, but he's not ready.— Donald Trump
The Hearth Conversation Another angle on the story
Why did Trump single out Zelenski's failure to read the proposal rather than, say, the substance of what was being negotiated?
Because it's easier to blame someone for not reading than to defend the actual terms. If Zelenski had read it and rejected it on principle, that's a harder story for Trump to tell.
But Trump also said Zelenski's team loved it. Doesn't that suggest the proposal has merit?
It suggests his advisors thought it was workable. That's not the same as Zelenski thinking it protects Ukraine's interests. There's often daylight between what a leader's staff will accept and what the leader will stake their country on.
What about Putin's silence? Why hasn't he endorsed the plan if it favors Russia?
Because saying yes to a peace proposal is a commitment. Putin can keep his options open by saying parts are impractical. He gets the benefit of appearing reasonable while preserving his leverage.
So both leaders are hesitating?
Yes, but for different reasons. Zelenski may fear the terms don't secure Ukraine's future. Putin may fear they don't give him enough. Trump is caught between them, trying to move one or both.
What happens if neither side budges?
The war continues. And Trump's credibility as a dealmaker takes a hit. He's betting on being able to force a settlement, but you can't force peace if the people fighting don't want the terms you're offering.