Today, Donald Trump expressed his frustration towards Ukraine, accusing the nation of showing a lack of appreciation for his proposed peace plan aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict with Russia.

The former President characterized the war as disadvantageous for all parties involved, emphasizing that it was a conflict he “inherited” and one that should never have occurred.

Trump’s 28-point peace proposal, which seeks to put an end to Russia’s nearly four-year-long invasion, has sparked widespread criticism. Many senators have dismissed it as a “Russian wish list,” particularly due to its controversial stipulations that include ceding territory and significantly downsizing Ukraine’s military forces.

In response to the backlash, Washington officials have had to refute allegations that Russia was behind the contentious proposal. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has maintained that the plan was crafted by the United States.

Expressing himself through capital letters on his Truth Social platform, Trump appeared to indirectly criticize Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, stating that the conflict might have been avoided with “strong and proper US and Ukrainian leadership.”

He reiterated his stance, lamenting, “I inherited a war that should have never happened, a war that is a loser for everyone, especially the millions of people that have so needlessly died.”

‘Ukraine “leadership” has expressed zero gratitude for our efforts, and Europe continues to buy oil from Russia.’ 

His statement came as top officials from the United States, Ukraine, and national security advisers from France, Britain and Germany held talks in Geneva to discuss the draft plan.

Ukrainian President Zelensky said his delegation was ‘focused on finding doable solutions’.

Donald Trump has today accused Ukraine of showing ‘zero gratitude’ over his peace plan to end the war with Russia

The US President launched his tirade on his Truth Social platform, where he repeated unfounded claims that the 2020 election was ‘rigged’

Just minutes after Trump unleashed his tirade, top Kyiv security official Rustem Umerov declared that Ukraine ‘appreciates our American partners’.  

Writing on X, the secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defence Council said: ‘Our current proposals while still not finalised include many Ukrainian priorities. We appreciate our American partners working closely with us to understand our concerns to reach this critical point and we expect to make more progress today.’ 

Ursula von der Leyen had earlier warned that Ukraine’s borders cannot be changed by force. 

The European Commission President said any deal with Vladimir Putin’s Russia should not be ‘sowing the seeds for a future conflict’. 

‘Any credible and sustainable peace plan should first and foremost stop the killing and end the war, while not sowing the seeds for a future conflict,’ Ms von der Leyen said.

‘We have agreed on the main elements necessary for a just and lasting peace and Ukraine’s sovereignty. Let me highlight three of them. 

‘First, borders cannot be changed by force.

‘Second, as a sovereign nation there cannot be limitations on Ukraine’s armed forces that would leave the country vulnerable to future attack and thereby also undermining European security.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said his delegation was ‘focused on finding doable solutions’

Sir Keir Starmer is pictured attending the G20 Leaders Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, on November 22

Sir Keir Starmer has backed both Ukraine and Donald Trump after a call with Volodymyr Zelensky about a US-backed peace plan

‘Third, the centrality of the European Union in securing peace for Ukraine must be fully reflected. Ukraine must have the freedom and sovereign right to choose its own destiny. They have chosen a European destiny.’ 

The Ukrainian delegation today held their first meeting with Britain’s national security adviser Jonathan Powell and his French and German counterparts.

US, Ukrainian and European counterparts are meeting in Geneva, with special envoy Steve Witkoff, army secretary Dan Driscoll and US secretary of state Mr Rubio expected to represent Washington.

Mr Zelensky posted on X: ‘The Ukrainian and American teams, as well as the teams of our European partners, are in close contact, and I do hope that there will be a result.

‘The bloodshed must be stopped, and we must ensure that the war is never reignited.’

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander told Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips that the deal ‘requires some additional work’. 

‘We have been clear that there are elements of the peace plan that he has proposed that are essential for a just and lasting peace,’ she said. 

Ms Alexander said allies of Ukraine need to ‘find a way to secure that ceasefire and open up space for meaningful negotiations’.

Mr Rubio earlier insisted that the controversial peace plan for Ukraine was ‘authored by the US’.

He doubled down on US ownership of the plan, pushing back against claims from several senators that it amounted to a ‘Russian wish list’.

‘It is based on input from the Russian side. But it is also based on previous and ongoing input from Ukraine,’ Rubio said.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen speaks with Sir Keir at the G20 summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, on November 22  

Pictured left to right: European Council President Antonio Costa, Prime Minister Keir Starmer, France’s President Emmanuel Macron and Finland’s President Alexander Stubb

Trump declared the proposal was ‘by far’ not the ‘final offer’ as Western leaders scrambled to coordinate a response during frantic G20 summit diplomacy in South Africa.

The plan, drawn up by the Trump administration and the Kremlin, has alarmed European governments after it emerged Ukraine was being pushed to accept terms that mirror long-standing demands from Moscow.

In a joint statement on Saturday, European and other Western leaders cautiously acknowledged that the document could serve as a possible basis for ending the war but stressed that it would require ‘additional work’. 

Washington has strongly denied accusations that it echoes Russian objectives.

Ahead of the gathering, Zelensky issued a video address insisting that Ukraine’s negotiators ‘know how to protect Ukrainian national interests and exactly what is needed to prevent Russia from carrying out’ another invasion.

‘Real peace is always based on security and justice,’ he said.

The 28-point blueprint closely mirrors positions repeatedly put forward by the Kremlin over nearly four years of full-scale war, including demands that Ukraine hand over territory and drastically reduce the size of its armed forces.

Trump has insisted Kyiv respond by Thursday, though he hinted an extension may be possible.

Speaking to reporters outside the White House on Saturday, he dismissed suggestions the proposal was final.

He said: ‘We’d like to get the peace, it should’ve happened a long time ago. The Ukraine war with Russia should’ve never happened. If I was president, it would have never happened. We’re trying to get it ended. One way or another, we have to get it ended.’

Leaders across Europe have been trying to strike a careful balance — praising Trump’s efforts to end the war while acknowledging that key parts of the plan are unacceptable to Kyiv.

‘There are many things that cannot simply be an American proposal, which requires broader consultation,’ Emmanuel Macron warned on the sidelines of the G20, saying any deal must deliver peace for Ukrainians and ‘security for all Europeans’.

It comes as residents in Moscow were hit with power blackouts and heating disruption for the first time today after a Ukrainian strike

A dramatic swarm of drones exploded the Lenin Shatura thermal plant – mostly fired by gas – as temperatures dipped below freezing point

Pro-Kremlin media outlet Readovka and others admitted that power and heating disruptions were felt by residents

German chancellor Friedrich Merz stressed the stakes for Europe, warning of the wider fallout should Kyiv be forced into defeat.

‘If Ukraine loses this war and possibly collapses, it will have an impact on European politics as a whole, on the entire European continent. And that is why we are so committed to this issue,’ he said.

‘There is currently an opportunity to end this war, but we are still quite a long way from a good outcome for everyone.’

Keir Starmer, speaking in Johannesburg, voiced particular concern over proposed limits on Ukraine’s armed forces.

‘We are concerned about [caps on military], because it’s fundamental that Ukraine has to be able to defend itself if there’s a ceasefire.’

He said the plan ‘requires additional work’, adding: ‘And that’s why there’s been the agreement that in Geneva tomorrow [Sunday], you’ll have senior US personnel, you’ll have European NSAs [national security advisers], including the UK NSA, and obviously Ukrainians there to work further on the draft.’

Starmer has spoken directly with Trump about the matter and is expected to speak with him again on Sunday, Downing Street said.

It comes as residents in Moscow were hit with power blackouts and heating disruption for the first time today after a Ukrainian strike.

A dramatic swarm of drones exploded the Lenin Shatura thermal plant – mostly fired by gas – as temperatures dipped below freezing point.

‘A fire broke out at the facility,’ admitted regional governor Andrey Vorobyov, referring to the Shatura strike.

He admitted emergency workers scrambled to bring in ‘backup’ power and heating supplies after the damage to the power plant, east of Moscow.

Pro-Kremlin media outlet Readovka and others admitted that power and heating disruptions were felt by residents – a rare event near the Russian capital but regular for Ukrainians after constant strikes by Putin’s forces.

Moscow’s mayor Sergei Sobyanin admitted the capital was under attack by Ukrainian drones with at least three shot down.