A TOP Trump official has suggested Volodymyr Zelensky may have to quit as President of Ukraine to get peace talks back on track.
It comes as the UK’s ambassador to the US pleaded with the Ukrainians to mend relations with the White House.
In a marked hardening of Donald Trump’s stance toward Mr Zelensky, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz openly questioned the Ukrainian President’s future, saying: “We need a leader that can deal with us eventually, deal with the Russians and end this war.”
He added: “If it becomes apparent President Zelensky’s either personal motivations or political motivations are divergent from ending the fighting in his country, then I think we have a real issue on our hands.”
Meanwhile, appearing on the Sunday morning shows in the US, ambassador Lord Mandelson implored Mr Zelensky to change his tone toward President Trump and sign the minerals deal that is on the table.
He told ABC: “I think that Ukraine should be the first to commit to a ceasefire and defy the Russians to follow.
“And then, as part of the unfolding plan for this negotiation, the Europeans and perhaps some other countries too have got to consider how they are going to put forces on the ground to play their part in providing enduring security and deterrence for Ukraine.”
He added: “We need a very radical reset.
“The reset has to consist of the US and Ukraine getting back on the same page.
“And President Zelenskyy giving his unequivocal backing to the initiative that President Trump is taking to end the war and to bring a just and lasting peace to Ukraine.
“And the Europeans too need to back the calls for a ceasefire.
“And by the way, I think that Ukraine should be the first to commit to a ceasefire and defy the Russians to follow.”
