In a rare public showdown, U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy have exchanged sharp words following a high-level U.S.-Russia meeting in Saudi Arabia. The talks, aimed at resolving the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, notably excluded Ukraine, sparking tensions between the two allies.
Zelenskyy responded to the exclusion by postponing his scheduled visit to Saudi Arabia, stating that \"negotiations should not take place behind our backs.\" This move underscored Ukraine's displeasure with being left out of critical discussions.
Trump, addressing reporters at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, expressed heightened confidence that the conflict would soon come to an end. However, he criticized Ukraine's role, suggesting that Kyiv bore responsibility for initiating the conflict. \"You should have never started it. You could have made a deal,\" Trump remarked.
The President further claimed that Zelenskyy's approval rating had plummeted to \"4 percent\" and advocated for new presidential elections in Ukraine, pointing out that Zelenskyy's mandate had long expired. This accusation comes despite Ukraine postponing its presidential election scheduled for 2024.
Zelenskyy fired back by accusing Trump of succumbing to Russian \"disinformation.\" He asserted that the United States had aided Russian President Vladimir Putin in breaking out of years of isolation. \"I believe that the United States helped (Vladimir) Putin break out of years of isolation,\" Zelenskyy told reporters, marking some of his strongest criticism of the current U.S. administration.
The tension escalated when Trump labeled Zelenskyy a \"Dictator without Elections\" on his social media platform, Truth Social. He warned, \"Zelenskyy better move fast or he is not going to have a country left,\" and mocked Zelenskyy's background as a comedian.
In response, Zelenskyy highlighted the substantial U.S. support his country has received, including $67 billion in military aid and $31.5 billion for Ukraine's budget. He also pointed out that his approval rating remains above 50 percent, countering Trump's claims with data from the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology.
The exchange marks a significant shift in the typically supportive dynamics between the United States and Ukraine, raising questions about the future of their alliance amidst the ongoing conflict.
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Explainer: What to know about Trump and Zelenskyy's exchange of barbs?
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