Ukraine‘s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday said that US President Donald Trump is influenced by Russian disinformation regarding comments about the Ukrainian leader’s approval ratings. Trump had claimed Zelenskyy’s rating was 4%.
Zelenskyy also addressed Trump’s suggestion about holding Ukrainian elections, which are currently suspended due to martial law and ongoing conflict.
Zelenskyy’s issued these statements before his scheduled meeting with Keith Kellogg, the US special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, who arrived in Kyiv on Wednesday. Kellogg’s visit coincides with America’s shifting approach towards Russian President Vladimir Putin.
On Tuesday, Trump blamed Kyiv for the conflict as the war approaches its fourth year. This occurred while American and Russian diplomats held talks in Saudi Arabia, excluding Ukraine and European allies.
These remarks have caused concern among Ukrainian officials, who continue seeking international support.
Trump addressed reporters at his Florida residence on Tuesday, stating that Ukraine could have prevented the war through negotiations and shouldn’t have initiated it.
During his visit, which Kellogg described as “a chance to have some good, substantial talks,” Zelenskyy opted to cancel his scheduled Wednesday visit to Saudi Arabia. Some analysts interpreted this as a move to withhold legitimacy from US-Russia discussions regarding his country’s future.
US officials have indicated that Ukraine’s aspirations to join NATO following a potential peace agreement are unlikely to materialise. Zelenskyy maintains that any resolution must include American security assurances to deter Russian threats.