(MENAFN) US President Donald Trump on Sunday accused Ukraine's leaders of showing "zero gratitude" for American attempts to resolve the conflict with Russia, while holding his predecessor responsible for the outbreak of hostilities.

"Ukraine 'leadership' has expressed zero gratitude for our efforts, and Europe continues to buy oil from Russia," Trump posted on his social media platform, Truth Social.

He asserted that the war "would have never happened" if there had been "strong and proper US and Ukrainian leadership," claiming that it began during the "Sleepy Joe Biden Administration."

Trump further contended that if the 2020 election had not been "rigged and stolen," the Ukraine-Russia war would not have occurred, suggesting that Russian President Vladimir Putin "would never have attacked."

He added that he "inherited a war that should have never happened, a war that is a loser for everyone, especially the millions of people that have so needlessly died."

These remarks coincided with high-level meetings between US and Ukrainian officials in Geneva, where discussions are underway regarding a 28-point US peace initiative.

The preliminary plan seems to call for Ukraine to relinquish additional territory to Russia, restrict its military capabilities, and officially renounce NATO membership.

Trump, emphasizing that the plan is not his "final offer," set a Thursday deadline for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to provide a response.

Zelenskyy, in turn, stated that he is confronted with a choice between "loss of our dignity or the risk of losing a key partner."

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