Donald Trump has launched another blistering attack against Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky. Taking to the social media platform Truth Social, the US President hit out at the wartime leader for his criticism of US plans to allow Russia to retain control of Crimea and the occupied eastern regions of Ukraine.

Trump accused Zelensky of "inflammatory statements", after the Ukrainian leader said giving away Crimea "violates" his country's constitution. The 78-year-old US leader also claimed that Zelensky's latest intervention will do "nothing but prolong the 'killing field'" in Ukraine.

Trump's full Truth Social statement read: "Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, is boasting on the front page of The Wall Street Journal that, “Ukraine will not legally recognize the occupation of Crimea. There’s nothing to talk about here.” This statement is very harmful to the Peace Negotiations with Russia in that Crimea was lost years ago under the auspices of President Barack Hussein Obama, and is not even a point of discussion.

"Nobody is asking Zelenskyy 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? The area also houses, for many years before “the Obama handover,” major Russian submarine bases. It’s inflammatory statements like Zelenskyy’s that makes it so difficult to settle this War. He has nothing to boast about!"

The US President went on: "The situation for Ukraine is dire — He can have Peace or, he can fight for another three years before losing the whole Country. I have nothing to do with Russia, but have much to do with wanting to save, on average, five thousand Russian and Ukrainian soldiers a week, who are dying for no reason whatsoever. The statement made by Zelenskyy today will do nothing but prolong the “killing field,” and nobody wants that! We are very close to a Deal, but the man with “no cards to play” should now, finally, GET IT DONE.

"I look forward to being able to help Ukraine, and Russia, get out of this Complete and Total MESS, that would have never started if I were President!".

Under the US proposals, Russia would be formally recognised as the owner of Crimea, illegally annexed by Moscow troops in 2014. It would also officially become sovereign over most of Kherson, while it would retain de facto ownership of almost all of the other territories it currently occupies following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Meanwhile, Ukraine would get the northwestern slice of Kherson and unhindered access to the mouth of the Dnipro River. America would take over the running of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant.