U.S. President Donald Trump claimed on Feb. 21 President Volodymyr Zelensky is just not important to negotiations to finish Russia's struggle in Ukraine.
"I don't assume he's essential to be at conferences, to be trustworthy with you," Trump informed Fox Information Radio on Feb. 21. "When Zelensky stated, 'Oh, he wasn't invited to a gathering,' I imply, it wasn't a precedence as a result of he did such a nasty job in negotiating to this point."
Trump's remarks come amid rising considerations in Kyiv and amongst European allies about Washington's shifting stance on the struggle, significantly after the U.S. held direct talks with Russia in Saudi Arabia on Feb. 18. Zelensky on Feb. 16 rejected the thought of peace negotiations being performed behind Ukraine's again.
Trump has additionally made a number of false claims about Ukraine in current days, together with calling Zelensky a "dictator" and accusing him of refusing to carry elections.
His remarks ignore the truth that Ukraine's structure prohibits elections throughout martial regulation, which has been in impact since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022.
Trump's particular envoy for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, stated on Feb. 15 that Europe is not going to be instantly concerned in negotiations to finish Russia's struggle in Ukraine, however its pursuits can be thought of.
Trump stated on Feb. 20 Russia "holds the playing cards" in any peace talks because of its management over a good portion of Ukrainian territory.
He additional introduced plans to fulfill Russian President Vladimir Putin in Saudi Arabia, although the extent of Ukraine's involvement in these talks stays unclear.
The Kyiv IndependentOlga Aivazovska
Moscow has positioned the U.S. as its "primary counterpart" in negotiations, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated on Feb. 13.
On Feb. 18, Trump appeared to position accountability for the continuing struggle on President Volodymyr Zelensky's wartime management.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance additionally criticized Zelensky on Feb. 19, calling his public remarks about Trump "counterproductive" after the Ukrainian president dismissed Trump's declare that his assist in Ukraine had fallen to 4%, labeling it Russian disinformation.
A Feb. 19 ballot by the Kyiv Worldwide Institute of Sociology (KIIS) confirmed that 57% of Ukrainians belief Zelensky, marking a five-point enhance since December.
The Kyiv IndependentAndriy Lyubka