Zelensky says Trump lives in Russian "disinformation space" as US-Ukraine rift widens
US president Donald Trump is living in a Russian "disinformation space", Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said during an interview in Kyiv on Wednesday. Zelensky's comment was a swipe at Trump, who had earlier accused Ukraine of starting the war and questioned Zelensky's legitimacy.
On Tuesday night, Donald Trump falsely accused Ukraine of starting the war with Russia. Commenting on Ukraine's complaints about not being invited to the US-Russia summit in Saudi Arabia, Trump replied: "Well, you were there for three years. You should've ended it after three years. You should’ve never started it. You could’ve made a deal.”
Zelensky hit back at Trump's comments on Wednesday, saying the US president was being influenced by fake news spread by Russia: "Unfortunately, President Trump - I have great respect for him as the leader of a nation that we have great respect for, the American people who always support us - unfortunately lives in this disinformation space."
The US president had also questioned Zelensky's legitimacy as a leader on Tuesday. Trump criticised Ukraine's martial law - which bans new elections - and claimed Zelensky has only a 4 per cent approval rating. The Ukrainian president replied with a poll conducted by the International Institute of Sociology in Kyiv earlier this month, which put his approval rating at 57 per cent.
The back-and-forth is the latest example of the chill in US-Ukraine relations since Donald Trump took office, a sharp reversal from the steadfast support of the Joe Biden administration. Trump even said an in-person meeting with Russian president Vladimir Putin could happen as soon as this month.
European support
While US support is wavering, the EU remains committed to defending Ukraine. France is holding its second round of talks on the war on Wednesday, with Belgian prime minister Bart De Wever participating via videoconference. European Commission leaders will also travel to Kyiv next week, to mark the third anniversary of the Russian invasion.
Also on Wednesday, EU member states agreed on the content of their 16th sanctions package against Russia. Among other things, it targets Russia's shadow fleet, bans Russian aluminium imports and extends export bans, including on video game controllers that can be used to fly drones.
PHOTO © Tetiana DZHAFAROVA / POOL / AFP
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