Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was due to hold urgent talks Thursday with leaders and officials from about 30 countries that are supporting Kyiv’s effort to obtain fair terms for an end to the war with Russia.

Diplomatic tensions escalate as President Donald Trump casts doubt on Ukraine’s democracy, criticizing its ongoing wartime ban on national elections.

KYIV, Ukraine -- KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — President Donald Trump on Sunday claimed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy “hasn’t read” a U.S-authored peace proposal aimed at ending the Russia-Ukraine war.

You know, they talk about a democracy, but it gets to a point where it’s not a democracy anymore,” President Donald Trump told Politico earlier.

Following President Donald Trump’s claim that Ukraine is “losing” the war against Russia’s ongoing invasion and that Russia now has the “upper hand”, multiple officials told CNN there are no new US or European assessments suggesting there have been significant changes on the battlefield and they don’t see any indications Moscow is likely to win the conflict quickly.

Ukraine-Russia war latest: Trump says ‘strong words’ exchanged in call with European leaders - European leaders say peace talks 'at a critical moment' for Ukraine and security of Euro-Atlantic region

Donald Trump has issued a major peace ultimatum to Ukraine in the hopes of securing peace by Christmas. After weeks of back-and-forth between the US, Russia, Ukraine and Europe on a peace plan, the President has now vowed that Moscow holds the advantage - and has told Ukraine to submit.

President Donald Trump asked when Ukraine would have democratic elections at a press availability on Wednesday. REPORTER: And you said in an interview yesterday that you think it's time for Zelensky to start accepting things.

President Donald Trump is once again suggesting that Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky has been ungrateful amid negotiations to end the Ukraine-Russia war. Representative Don Bacon slammed the remarks,