U.S. President Donald Trump calls out both Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy over ceasefire talks

President Trump criticizes Putin and Zelenskyy in efforts to broker a ceasefire in Ukraine-Russia conflict, facing challenges and tensions.

U.S. President Donald Trump lashed out on Sunday (March 30, 2025) at the leaders of both warring parties in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, expressing frustration as efforts to kick-start ceasefire talks remain deadlocked.

Mr. Trump first criticised Russian President Vladimir Putin for questioning the credibility of Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy as a negotiating partner, saying he was “very angry, pissed off” with the Kremlin chief.

But the U.S. leader later softened his tone on Putin and instead turned his ire on Mr. Zelenskyy, warning him Ukraine would have “big, big problems” if he got cold feet over a deal to sign over mineral rights to the United States.

Mr. Trump is trying to broker a ceasefire between Ukraine and its Russian invader, and has been pushing Mr. Zelenskyy to sign an agreement to give U.S. firms exclusive access to Ukrainian rare earth minerals.

Earlier Sunday, NBC News journalist Kristen Welker said Mr. Trump had called her to express his fury over Mr. Putin questioning Mr. Zelenskyy’s future — something Mr. Trump himself has done — and threatening secondary tariffs on firms dealing in Russian oil.

Later, Mr. Trump spoke to reporters on his plane flying back to Washington from his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, and toned down some of his criticism.

“I was disappointed in a certain way,” Mr.Trump said.