Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky sent shockwaves across Washington D.C. -- and the world -- this week after he essentially rejected the notion of a peace deal brought forth by President Donald Trump.

According to Breitbart, Zelensky made it clear that he isn't on board with Russia’s occupation of Crimea as the price to pay for peace with Russia.

The Ukrainian president cited the country's constitution, which he says calls for nothing short of "absolute victory" at the end of the day, something that will be very difficult to come by, and quite expensive.

President Trump had remained hopeful that the Ukrainian president would be open to ceding the annexed territory to avoid continuing a war that has not only cost mountains of money, but has also resulted in untold amounts of death and destruction.

What did he say?

In an interview earlier this week with Time Magazine, Trump insisted that one of the outcomes of the situation would be that “Crimea will stay with Russia," noting that a peace deal was "close," only now requiring Russia and Ukraine to sit down and make it official.

Trump's proposed peace deal was presented to Ukraine earlier in the week and it was quickly shot down by Zelensky, who said that Ukraine's constitution calls for victory, with no compromises.

Breitbart noted:

The United States “offered its vision”, Zelensky said before leaving South Africa, stating Ukraine had made counter-proposals in return. Per Ukrainian state media, these included further calls for major Western military — as Ukraine has persistently asked for over the course of months — support including the deployment of “contingents” of foreign armed forces to the country for peacekeeping.

Ukraine had also asked for security guarantees, anticipating future Russian aggression and wanting to make sure it would be protected from such actions.

"This document is on Trump’s desk”, and “we are awaiting a response,” Zelensky said, saying of the requests: “We want strong players among the security guarantors, those who have power."

He added, "Those who are not afraid of Russia and who have influence on Russia. Certainly, economic, certainly, historical. Of course, there should be the United States of America, of course, there should be Europe because we are in Europe."

Social media reaction

Trump's followers on social media reacted to the news.

Zelensky doesn’t want peace for the people of his country. He just wants more money for himself, kickbacks and bribery. pic.twitter.com/2DwIpo1g2u

— 💥Texas Girl💥 (@Ilegvm) April 23, 2025

"Zelensky is a globalist puppet," one X user wrote.

Another X user wrote, "There is no money in peace. Think about it."