Tensions between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy have escalated sharply following recent U.S.-Russian talks in Saudi Arabia. The talks, aimed at resolving the three-year Russia-Ukraine conflict, notably excluded Ukraine's participation, sparking intense exchanges between the two leaders.
Zelenskyy accused Trump of succumbing to Russian \"disinformation\", stating, \"We've seen this disinformation; we understand it comes from Russia.\" In response, Trump labeled Zelenskyy \"a dictator without elections\" and criticized his handling of the conflict.
Speaking at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Trump expressed frustration over Ukraine's exclusion from the talks, claiming, \"You should have ended it three years ago. You should have never started it. You could have made a deal.\" He also asserted that Zelenskyy's approval rating was only 4 percent, a claim contradicted by a Reuters/Ipsos survey showing 57 percent of Ukrainians trust Zelenskyy.
Zelenskyy fired back on Wednesday, accusing Trump of spreading disinformation and living in a \"disinformation bubble\". He emphasized the need for truth and criticized Trump's management of the crisis, especially regarding the loss of lives.
The tensions follow months of Zelenskyy seeking Trump's support, including proposals to exchange Ukraine's critical resources for U.S. assistance. However, Zelenskyy recently rejected a Trump administration proposal that would grant the U.S. significant access to Ukraine's rare earth minerals, arguing it did not protect Ukraine's interests.
In a potential sign of reconciliation, Zelenskyy reported a \"productive meeting\" with U.S. special envoy Keith Kellogg in Kyiv, expressing readiness to sign a robust investment and security agreement with the U.S., signaling possible mending of ties.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
