Trump Escalates Rhetoric Against Zelenskyy After US-Russian Meeting
Following a meeting between US and Russian delegations in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, former US President Donald Trump has significantly escalated his tone towards Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Trump’s Accusations and Falsehoods
In a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump characterized Zelenskyy as a "dictator" and claimed that he should "move fast" or risk losing his country. Trump also asserted that Zelenskyy is a "mediocre stand-up comedian" who has performed a "terrible job" as president, alleging that Ukraine is "destroyed" and millions have died "unnecessarily."
Trump reiterated several false claims he made the previous day. He asserted that Zelenskyy’s approval ratings in Ukraine are "in the low fours," despite polls indicating that Zelenskyy enjoys a trust rating of 57%. Trump also alleged that Zelenskyy is refusing to end the war in order to continue receiving foreign aid, and that the US has provided Ukraine with $350 billion in assistance, which has been "poured out" on a "war that cannot be won and should never have started."
Exaggerated Claims and Misleading Comparisons
Trump’s claims regarding the extent of US support for Ukraine are also significantly exaggerated. The $350 billion figure Trump cited, which he claimed far exceeds European aid, is unsubstantiated. According to independent observers, including the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, the US has provided approximately 114 billion euros in military and financial aid to Ukraine since the start of the war, while European countries have contributed 132 billion euros. Military assistance from the US and Europe is estimated to be roughly equal at around 60 billion euros each, while Europe has provided more financial and humanitarian aid than the US.
Ukraine’s Response and Trump’s Influence
Trump’s remarks have been met with irritation in Kyiv. Zelenskyy accused Trump of living in a "disinformation bubble" and suggested that Russian propaganda is influencing his views. He stated that he cannot accept an "asset sale" of his country and rejected calls for elections before the end of the war, labeling them an "ultimatum" that he would not succumb to.
In recent days, Trump and his allies have aligned closer to Russia’s interpretation that Zelenskyy no longer has the legitimacy to represent Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin has argued that Zelenskyy’s presidency is illegitimate because the presidential election was not held during the war, as required by Ukrainian law. However, there is no political support for holding elections during wartime in Ukraine, even among Zelenskyy’s opponents.
Should the US make new elections in Ukraine a condition for mediating a settlement between Ukraine and Russia, it would represent a significant shift towards Russian demands. A plan reported by Fox News, which suggested that the US and Russia would first seek a ceasefire, then hold elections, and only then sign a peace deal with a new Ukrainian government, has been dismissed as "fake" by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. According to Putin’s spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, there has been an "exchange of opinions" on holding elections in Ukraine.
US-Russia Meeting and Trump’s Sondergesandten
Lavrov and other Russian negotiators met with a US delegation led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Riyadh on Tuesday. It was the first meeting between US and Russian diplomats at this level since the start of the war. Lavrov and Putin later praised the talks, claiming that the new US administration is showing willingness to consider Russian interests. Trump’s delegation was described as "unbiased" by Putin.
Zelenskyy has not yet responded to Trump’s labeling of him as a "dictator." However, Keith Kellogg, Trump’s special envoy to Ukraine, met with Zelenskyy in Kyiv while Trump was making his written statements. Kellogg, a former general, has expressed greater understanding for Ukraine’s concerns about being vulnerable to renewed Russian aggression if a ceasefire is reached without security guarantees. It is unknown how much influence Kellogg’s views have on Trump. Kellogg was not part of the US delegation that met with Russian representatives in Riyadh.
