Tensions between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy have intensified following recent U.S.-Russian talks in Saudi Arabia. The discord arose as Zelenskyy accused Trump of succumbing to Russian \"disinformation,\" while Trump labeled Zelenskyy \"a dictator without elections.\"
The heated exchange highlights the growing frustration over Ukraine's exclusion from the high-level negotiations in Riyadh. On Tuesday, senior representatives from both the United States and Russia agreed to work towards ending the three-year Russia-Ukraine conflict and restoring bilateral relations without Ukraine's involvement.
Trump vs. Zelenskyy: Who Said What?
After the U.S.-Russia talks, Trump addressed the media from Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, dismissing concerns about Ukraine being left out of the negotiations. He asserted that Ukraine should have already ended the war, stating, \"Today I heard, 'Oh, we weren't invited.' Well, you've been there for three years. You should have ended it three years ago. You should have never started it. You could have made a deal.\"
Additionally, Trump claimed that Zelenskyy's approval rating was only 4 percent, though a recent Kyiv International Institute of Sociology poll cited in a Reuters/Ipsos survey found that 57 percent of Ukrainians trust Zelenskyy.
In response, Zelenskyy accused Trump of spreading \"a lot of disinformation coming from Russia,\" emphasizing that the claims about his low approval ratings and Ukraine initiating the conflict were unfounded. During a press briefing in Kyiv, Zelenskyy stated, \"We've seen this disinformation; we understand it comes from Russia. Unfortunately, President Trump, with all due respect for him as the leader of a nation we greatly respect, is living in this disinformation bubble.\" He added, \"I would like to see more truth from the Trump team.\"
Trump further escalated the situation by taking to his Truth Social platform, calling Zelenskyy a \"dictator\" who \"has done a terrible job.\" He wrote, \"I love Ukraine, but Zelenskyy has done a terrible job. His country is shattered, and MILLIONS have unnecessarily died – and so it continues.\" He concluded with, \"Zelenskyy better move fast, or he is not going to have a country left.\"
The exchanges between the two leaders come after months of cautious courting by Zelenskyy for Trump's support. In early February, Zelenskyy expressed willingness to exchange Ukraine's \"critical resources\" for continued U.S. support, aligning with Trump's demands. Prior to the U.S.-Russia talks, Zelenskyy instructed his aides to reject a proposal from Trump administration officials that would grant the U.S. significant access to Ukraine's rare earth minerals, arguing that the deal did not protect Ukraine's interests.
In a potential sign of reconciliation, Zelenskyy reported a \"productive meeting\" on Thursday with Keith Kellogg, the U.S. special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, in Kyiv. Zelenskyy stated, \"We have proposed the fastest and most constructive way to achieve results,\" and expressed gratitude for the United States' assistance and bipartisan support for Ukraine. He also voiced readiness to sign \"a strong, effective investment and security agreement\" with Trump.
(With input from agencies)
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
