The Kremlin is cheering on the recent freeze in relations between President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as a sign that Washington’s support for Kyiv may be eroding.
On Monday, Mr. Trump called for his Ukrainian counterpart to be replaced in peace negotiations, saying that Mr. Zelenskyy was “not helping matters much” in reaching a peaceful resolution to the war with Russia.
He also expressed frustration over the U.S. aid spent on the conflict. Mr. Trump told reporters that American taxpayers have provided Ukraine with hundreds of billions of dollars and “gotten absolutely nothing back except grief.”
People were interested in these podcasts
“In the 10 days since [Russian President] Vladimir Putin last spoke by telephone with the American president, Donald Trump has announced a sanctions waiver for Russian diesel supplies to the global market, throttled Ukraine’s access to vital battlefield satellite systems, [and] put sweeping new sanctions against Russia on hold,” The Washington Post reported.
Despite Europe’s strong support for Kyiv, Mr. Zelenskyy said Ukraine wouldn’t be able to survive an alliance between the U.S. and Russia.
“If the United States will support Putin — it’s unbelievable. It’s a tragedy,” he said Sunday on NBC News’ “Meet the Press.”
Dmitry Medvedev, a former Russian president who has become one of the Kremlin’s most virulent anti-Western hawks, said Mr. Zelenskyy has lost the favor of his one-time benefactor.
“The ‘Man of the Year’ and ’New Churchill’ has been recognized by his former master as an obstacle to peace and the interests of the United States,” Mr. Medvedev said. “After all, he bit the hand that fed him until it bled.”
Contact the author
Please read our comment policy before commenting.