Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded to comments made by President Donald Trump on Wednesday, saying that Trump was trapped in a Russian “disinformation space” with regard to his statements about Zelenskyy’s approval rating.
Trump had claimed at Mar-a-Lago that Zelenskyy’s approval stood at a mere 4%. In a press briefing in Kyiv, Zelenskyy refuted this, stating, “we have seen this disinformation. We understand that it is coming from Russia.” He continued, asserting that Trump “lives in this disinformation space.”
Trump also proposed that Ukraine should proceed with elections, which have been postponed due to the ongoing war and the imposition of martial law, in line with the country’s constitution. However, because of the conflict, public opinion surveys and approval ratings have become unreliable in Ukraine. Zelenskyy’s remarks came just ahead of a scheduled meeting with Keith Kellogg, the U.S. special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, who had arrived in Kyiv that day. Kellogg was set to meet with Zelenskyy and Ukrainian military leaders, marking a shift in U.S. policy after years of focusing on isolating Russian President Vladimir Putin.
On Tuesday, Trump had also suggested that Ukraine was responsible for the war, which is nearing its fourth anniversary, as high-level talks between American and Russian diplomats in Saudi Arabia largely excluded Ukraine and its European allies. This comment was likely to upset Ukrainian officials, who have consistently appealed to the global community for assistance in fighting Russia’s invasion, which began on February 24, 2022. The battlefield situation in Ukraine has taken a toll in recent months, as Russia’s larger military continues a fierce offensive in eastern Ukraine, slowly pushing Ukrainian forces back along the 1,000-kilometer front line.
During a press conference at his Florida estate on Tuesday, Trump stated that Ukraine “should have never started” the war and implied that a “deal” could have been made to avoid the conflict altogether. Kellogg, meanwhile, described his visit to Kyiv as an opportunity to engage in “good, substantial talks.” Zelenskyy had initially planned to travel to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday but canceled the trip, a decision that some analysts believe was an attempt to undermine the U.S.-Russia discussions about Ukraine’s future.
There have been signals from American officials that Ukraine’s ambitions to join NATO as part of a post-war settlement to deter Russian aggression will not come to fruition. Zelenskyy has emphasized that any potential peace deal must include security guarantees from the U.S. to keep Russia in check. On his arrival in Kyiv, Kellogg addressed the matter of security, saying, “We understand the need for security guarantees.” He underscored the importance of Ukraine’s sovereignty and independence, stating, “It’s very clear to us the importance of the sovereignty of this nation and the independence of this nation as well. … Part of my mission is to sit and listen.” Kellogg added that he would share the insights gained during his visit with Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio to “ensure that we get this one right.”
{Matzav.com}