Trump says Zelenskiy comments harming peace talks with Russia

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump chided Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Wednesday for saying Ukraine would not recognize Russia's occupation of Crimea, which he called an inflammatory statement that will make a peace deal with Russia harder to achieve.

"This statement is very harmful to the Peace Negotiations with Russia," Trump said in a social media post. He said Crimea was lost years ago "and is not even a point of discussion."

Zelenskiy on Tuesday reiterated that Ukraine will not recognize Russia's occupation of the Crimea. "There’s nothing to talk about here. This is against our constitution."

"Nobody is asking Zelenskiy to recognize Crimea as Russian Territory but, if he wants Crimea, why didn’t they fight for it eleven years ago when it was handed over to Russia without a shot being fired?" Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Trump scolded the Ukrainian leader and said he was trying to stop the killing in his country and that they were "very close to a deal" on bringing an end to the war.

"It's inflammatory statements like Zelenskyy’s that makes it so difficult to settle this War. He has nothing to boast about!" Trump, reprising the tone he used in the two leaders' public Oval Office clash in March.

(Reporting by Katharine Jackson and Doina Chiacu; Editing by Franklin Paul and Chizu Nomiyama)

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