Former U.S. President Donald Trump took to his social media platform, Truth Social, to make accusations just hours after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized him for spreading Russian disinformation.
Speaking to reporters in Kyiv, Zelensky dismissed several unfounded claims Trump had made earlier, while emphasizing that any negotiations to end the war must involve Ukraine.
“Unfortunately, President Trump—whom I respect as a leader of a great nation and whose people have always supported us—exists in a space of disinformation,” Zelensky said.
Trump has consistently pushed for a swift resolution to the war, even if it means Ukraine ceding more territory. To Kyiv’s alarm, he has occasionally echoed Kremlin narratives, at times blaming Ukraine and NATO for the conflict and even suggesting that Ukraine “may be Russian someday.”
Trump’s alignment with Moscow goes beyond rhetoric. Last week, he raised concerns by speaking with Russian President Vladimir Putin for 90 minutes before reaching out to Zelensky. Then, on Tuesday, U.S. and Russian officials held high-level negotiations on ending the war in Ukraine in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia—without Ukraine’s participation.
Putin welcomed this shift in U.S. policy, describing the Riyadh talks as "friendly." He noted that the American delegation was “open to negotiations without bias or condemnation of past events.”
The U.S. and Russia reportedly agreed to form high-level teams to negotiate an end to the war and work on reestablishing diplomatic channels.
Zelensky voiced strong discontent over Ukraine’s exclusion from the talks, asserting that while nations are free to discuss bilateral matters, direct U.S.-Russia negotiations effectively broke Putin’s diplomatic isolation.
Under President Biden, the U.S. had been one of Ukraine’s most steadfast allies, delivering tens of billions in military aid. However, Trump has repeatedly stated that U.S. support should come with conditions. Earlier this month, he suggested that aid to Ukraine should be tied to American access to the country’s mineral resources.
Zelensky confirmed that the U.S. had proposed Ukraine give up 50% of its rare minerals without offering security guarantees in return. Rejecting the idea, he stated, “I cannot sell our state.”
In response to Trump’s remarks, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer reaffirmed support for Zelensky “as Ukraine’s democratically elected leader,” while German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called Trump’s comments “simply wrong and dangerous.”
Later, Zelensky expressed gratitude on social media, acknowledging the UK’s support and pledging that Ukraine would “never forget the respect the British people have shown for Ukraine and our citizens.”
