As negotiations to end the ongoing Russia–Ukraine war begin in earnest, President Donald Trump and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy are still trying to get on the same page.
Zelenskyy postponed a visit to Saudi Arabia on Feb. 19, in order to draw a greater distinction between his travel and talks between U.S. and Russian delegates in Riyadh the day before. Though Kyiv has insisted on no negotiations about Ukraine without Ukraine, none of their representatives were present for the Feb. 18 Riyadh meeting.
While the Ukrainian president might’ve held back in the initial flurry of talks between Washington and Moscow, he spoke out after Trump called his approval ratings into question and pressed for Ukraine to hold new elections.
Under normal circumstances, Zelenskyy would’ve been up for reelection last spring, but Ukrainian law does not allow elections during a state of martial law, as the country has been under for nearly three years.
At a Wednesday press conference, Zelenskyy said Trump’s comments about his approval ratings may have been shaped by Russian disinformation narratives. Further, he warned against comments that could undermine his government and legitimize Moscow.
“I would like Trump’s team to have more truth because all of this certainly does not benefit Ukraine,” Zelenskyy told reporters.
Trump fired backin a Feb. 19 social media post, saying Zelenskyy—whom he described as “modestly successful comedian”—had talked the United States into spending billions of dollars to sustain Ukraine in a war it couldn’t win … and cannot settle without U.S. support.
“A Dictator without Elections, Zelenskyy better move fast or he is not going to have a Country left,” Trump’s post continued.
The comments came on the same day Keith Kellogg, Trump’s special presidential envoy on Russia and Ukraine, visited Kyiv to discuss the path forward on peace talks.
As Trump and Zelenskyy’s breakdown became increasingly visible on Wednesday, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) accused the Trump team of “openly aligning themselves with Putin and his Russian oligarchs.”
“This Putin-Trump alliance means abandoning our allies, supporting authoritarianism and undermining our democratic traditions,” Sanders added.
Vice President JD Vance defended Trump’s negotiating stance, in an interview with The Daily Mail. Vance said Trump isn’t being taken by Russian disinformation, but is instead advancing his previously stated objective to rapidly negotiate an end to the conflict.
“The idea that Zelenskyy is going to change the president’s mind by badmouthing him in public media … everyone who knows the president will tell you that is an atrocious way to deal with this administration,” Vance added.
By Ryan Morgan
