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U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy have exchanged sharp words after Ukraine was left out of high-level talks between the United States and Russia aimed at ending the three-year conflict in Ukraine.
The meeting, held in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, brought together senior officials from the U.S. and Russia, including top diplomats, to discuss a path toward ending the ongoing conflict. Notably, Ukraine was not invited to participate.
In response, Zelenskyy postponed a scheduled visit to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, stating that “negotiations should not take place behind our backs.” His remarks prompted sharp criticism from Trump, leading to a rare public dispute between the leaders of two nations that have been close allies since the conflict began.
What Did They Say?
Following the U.S.-Russia talks, Trump expressed optimism about resolving the conflict, saying he was “much more confident” that it would end. When questioned about Ukraine’s absence, he remarked, “I hear that they’re upset about not having a seat. Well, they’ve had a seat for three years and a long time before that. This could have been settled very easily.”
Trump went further, implying that Kyiv was responsible for starting the conflict, a significant departure from the traditional stance of the U.S. and its allies. “You should have never started it. You could have made a deal,” he added.
He also claimed that Zelenskyy’s approval rating had dropped to “4 percent” and called for new presidential elections in Ukraine, noting that Zelenskyy’s mandate had long expired. Ukraine had postponed its presidential election scheduled for 2024.
Zelenskyy responded sharply, accusing Trump of falling for Russian “disinformation.” He stated, “I believe that the United States helped [Russian President Vladimir] Putin break out of years of isolation.” He urged Trump’s team “to be more truthful” in their statements.
The exchange escalated when Trump labeled Zelenskyy a “Dictator without Elections” on his social media platform, Truth Social. “Zelenskyy better move fast or he is not going to have a country left,” Trump wrote. He also referred to Zelenskyy as “a modestly successful comedian” who “talked the United States into spending 350 billion dollars to go into a war that couldn’t be won, that never had to start,” and “will never be able to settle” without the United States and himself.
Zelenskyy countered by pointing out that the United States had given $67 billion in military aid and $31.5 billion in support for Ukraine’s budget. He also noted that his approval rating stands above 50 percent, citing a recent poll by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology.
European Leaders React
The sudden shift in U.S. foreign policy and its warmer ties with Russia have alarmed European leaders, who are concerned about the potential impact on European security. French President Emmanuel Macron convened emergency meetings in Paris with senior officials from over a dozen EU countries and their NATO allies. The meetings resulted in an agreement on a new round of sanctions against Russia.
In a post on social media platform X, Macron emphasized that any peace deal should consider Ukraine’s rights and European security concerns. “The position of France and its allies is clear and united. We wish for peace in Ukraine that is lasting,” he wrote.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke with Zelenskyy, assuring him of the UK’s support and stating it was “perfectly reasonable” for Ukraine to “suspend elections during wartime as the UK did during World War II.” However, Starmer also expressed support for U.S.-led efforts to achieve lasting peace in Ukraine.
Looking Ahead
Experts believe the dispute between Trump and Zelenskyy may be temporary. Tymofiy Mylovanov, president of the Kyiv School of Economics and former economic minister under Zelenskyy, commented that Zelenskyy is “right to push back on Trump with facts and refer to Russian disinformation, but also right not to go personal on him.” He described it as “a tough balancing act” for Zelenskyy.
Jack Keane, a retired U.S. Army general, told Fox News that the exchange is likely “short-lived” and partly due to Zelenskyy’s “overreaction” to being excluded from the Saudi talks. “I think this debate, this lashing out at each other, is temporary. I don’t believe it’s long-lasting,” Keane said. “Our common interests are at stake here, and they will come together and work something out.”
In his nightly address, Zelenskyy emphasized the importance of maintaining a good relationship with Washington and stressed the need for constructive cooperation with the United States. “Together with America and Europe, peace can be more secure; and that is our goal,” he said, reiterating Ukraine’s desire to end the conflict “from the very first second.”
He also announced plans to meet with U.S. Special Envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg, expressing his willingness for “constructive” work with the United States.
