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Tensions between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy have escalated after Ukraine was excluded from high-level talks between the U.S. and Russia in Saudi Arabia.
Following the discussions in Riyadh aimed at resolving the three-year conflict in Ukraine, Trump dismissed concerns about Kyiv’s absence. “Today I heard, ‘Oh, we weren’t invited.’ Well, you’ve been there for three years. You should have ended it three years ago. You should have never started it. You could have made a deal,” Trump said at Mar-a-Lago in Florida.
Zelenskyy responded sharply, accusing Trump of spreading “disinformation coming from Russia.” He refuted Trump’s claims about his low approval ratings and initiating the conflict. “Unfortunately, President Trump is living in this disinformation bubble,” Zelenskyy said during a press briefing in Kyiv. “I would like to see more truth from the Trump team.”
Trump intensified the rhetoric on his social media platform, calling Zelenskyy a “dictator” who has “done a terrible job.” He wrote, “I love Ukraine, but Zelenskyy has done a terrible job. His country is shattered, and millions have unnecessarily died—and so it continues.”
Despite the clash, Zelenskyy expressed hope for cooperation. On Thursday, he met with Keith Kellogg, the U.S. special envoy for Ukraine and Russia. “We have proposed the fastest and most constructive way to achieve results,” Zelenskyy said, thanking the United States for its assistance and voicing readiness to sign “a strong, effective investment and security agreement” with Trump.
The exchange highlights growing tensions as Ukraine seeks support amid ongoing conflict. Young people around the world are watching closely, reflecting on how international relations impact the future and the importance of truthful dialogue between leaders.
