Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused the US of bringing Russia out of global isolation through holding bilateral talks in Riyadh.
He iterated that US has “helped Putin to come out of isolation” which he said was “completely fair because of their full-scale invasion” on Ukraine.
He also rebuked US President, Donald Trump’s comments that most of Ukraine’s support comes from the US.
He noted that “The truth is somewhere else,” but added that he remains grateful for the US’ support and wants “the Trump team to have true facts.”
He commented on the US-Russia talks in Riyadh yesterday, saying, “This isn’t positive for Ukraine.”
“What it does is that they’re bringing Putin out of isolation, and the Russians are happy because the discussion focuses on them.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy
He stated that Russia seems to be presenting itself “as a victim, and that is something new.”
Zelenskyy called out the US and US representatives in Riyadh for describing Russian illegal invasion of Ukraine as “a conflict,” and not “simply a war by Putin against us.”
He asserted, “This softens it,” disclosing that he had similar conversation with the previous US administration, when he “fought” against an official paper describing the war “as a conflict.”
“There was a[n attempted] shift in the policy to soften the terms to describe what Putin is doing against us, and we are standing up for Ukraine’s rights here. There’s nothing terrible, but we must recognise what’s happening.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy
Furthermore, the Ukrainian President commented on earlier remarks made by Trump about his popularity.
He said that he never comments on popularity ratings, “especially my own or other leaders.”
However, he points out that the latest poll shows 58% of Ukrainian trust him. “So if anyone wants to replace me right now, that will not work,” he stressed.
He also called out “a lot of disinformation coming from Russia,” as he said that these figures seem to be shared with the US.
“Unfortunately, President Trump, with all due respect for him as the leader of a nation that we respect greatly … is living in this disinformation bubble.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy
Zelenskyy noted that he will look into collecting more data on trust in key global leaders to counter Russian disinformation, as he says he warns against “the misinformation circle around President Trump,” which he says includes representatives linked with Hungarian and Slovak governments. “This is all concerning. Everything they are doing is to make sure that Ukraine is weak,” he said.
He also challenged US Ukraine Envoy, Keith Kellogg, visiting Kyiv today, to go and talk to ordinary Ukrainians about their reception of Trump’s comments
“Let him talk to the people. Do they trust their own president, or do they trust Putin? Let him ask about Trump, what do people think about Trump after his statements.
“It’s important to just go out and talk to the people. Let him choose where he goes. He has his ambassador here. It is important for him to see for himself what’s happening. And then I am ready to go to the frontline with him. We will go, let him talk to the military.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy
Suggestion Of Making Broad Concessions To Russia Rejected
Moreover, Zelenskyy rejected any suggestion of making broad concessions to Russia.
He said that making all concessions to Russia is supported by just one percent of the Ukrainian population. “That answers all questions,” he noted.
He asserted that Russia remains “the guilty party,” and one “cannot launder them like money” and “whitewash” their responsibility for the war.
“You may think you can resolve everything with agreements. It is impossible. Nobody in Ukraine trusts Putin. We need clear security guarantees.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy
He also pointedly rejected the US draft deal on minerals.
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