Karoline Leavitt Hits Zelensky: 'Has Been Trying To Litigate This Peace Negotiation In The Press'

Speaking to reporters outside the White House, Karoline Leavitt criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Transcript

00:00We just heard from President Trump on Tuesday's social, talking about Zelensky in the Wall Street Journal,

00:06has the U.S. asked Ukraine to give up Crimea as part of this negotiation for the peace?

00:13And also, will he meet with Zelensky in Rome this weekend?

00:18Well, as President Trump rightfully pointed out in that statement, it was President Obama who gave up Crimea,

00:23who allowed Russia to take it over in 2014.

00:26And so the President is not asking Ukraine to recognize Crimea.

00:31Nobody has asked them to do that.

00:33What he is asking is for people to come to the negotiating table recognizing that this has been a brutal war for far too long.

00:40And in order to make a good deal, both sides have to walk away a little bit unhappy.

00:44And unfortunately, President Zelensky has been trying to litigate this peace negotiation in the press.

00:51And that's unacceptable to the President.

00:53These should be closed-door negotiations.

00:55The President's national security team, his advisors, have exuded significant time, energy, and effort to try to bring this war to an end.

01:03The American taxpayer has funded billions of dollars in this effort.

01:06And enough is enough.

01:07The President's frustrated.

01:09His patience is running very thin.

01:11He wants to do what's right for the world.

01:12He wants to see peace.

01:14He wants to see the killing stop.

01:15But you need both sides of the war willing to do that.

01:19And unfortunately, President Zelensky seems to be moving in the wrong direction.