LONDON — President Donald Trump slammed Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday, accusing him of derailing negotiations to end the war in Ukraine while a peace deal was “very close.”

In a long post on Truth Social, Trump described Zelenskyy’s rejection of Russia’s takeover of Crimea, which Russia illegally annexed in 2014, as “very harmful” to achieving peace.

“It’s inflammatory statements like Zelenskyy’s that makes it so difficult to settle this War,” Trump wrote.

Zelenskyy has consistently rejected the suggestion that his country give up its claim to the Crimean Peninsula.

“There’s nothing to talk about here,” he said at a media conference Tuesday. “This is against our constitution.”

During an Oval Office media event Wednesday evening, Trump suggested negotiations with Zelenskyy have been “harder” than dealings with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“We have to get a deal with Zelenskyy,” Trump said. “I thought it might be easier to deal with Zelenskyy. So far, it’s been harder.”