Elon Musk launched a scathing attack on Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday, calling him a president “despised” by the Ukrainians. Musk claimed that Zelenskyy is directing a “huge scam machine that feeds on the bodies of Ukrainian soldiers” without providing any evidence. He also gave a reason for Donald Trump to leave Zelenskyy out of negotiations with Russia to end the war in Ukraine. This statement was made by Musk on his social network, X.
Musk’s criticism of Zelenskyy is not entirely surprising, given his support for Trump. Trump has been pressuring Zelenskyy to convene elections and has provided false figures of Zelenskyy’s approval rates. Musk echoed these sentiments, stating that Zelenskyy “knows that he would lose” the election, despite controlling all Ukrainian media, and therefore canceled the elections. He emphasized that Zelenskyy is “despised by the people of Ukraine.” However, it’s worth noting that Zelenskyy was elected in 2019 for a five-year mandate, and the elections were postponed due to martial law imposed after Russia’s invasion in 2022.
Later, at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), Musk softened his tone, describing Trump as “pragmatic” about the war in Ukraine. He said, “The president has a lot of empathy. He really cares.” This shift in tone highlights the complexities of the situation, with various stakeholders offering different perspectives on the conflict.
The tensions between Trump and Zelenskyy have been escalating since Washington began negotiations with Russia in Saudi Arabia about a possible agreement to end the nearly three-year war. Zelenskyy rejected an agreement that would give the United States access to large amounts of Ukrainian natural resources in exchange for US help to combat Russia. This rejection has led to a verbal war between the two leaders, with Trump describing Zelenskyy as a “dictator” on Tuesday. Zelenskyy, on the other hand, warned that Trump lives in a Russian “misinformation” bubble.
Trump’s national security advisor, Michael Waltz, asked Ukraine to stop launching “insults” at the president. Waltz stated that Trump is “obviously very frustrated” with Zelenskyy for not coming to the negotiating table. He emphasized that the opportunity offered to Ukraine is a “common sense plan” and that the Ukrainians “have to lower the tone.” Waltz believes that Ukraine will become a “sustainably” future partner and achieve the security guarantees it claims, adding that this is the best they can expect.
Waltz’s comments were echoed by Vice President JD Vance, who described Zelenskyy’s comments about President Trump as “unacceptable.” The US allies have reacted with surprise to Trump’s statement that Ukraine “began it,” and Waltz avoided responding when asked who he believed was responsible for the war and whether he considered Russian President Vladimir Putin a dictator.
The situation remains complex, with the US offering an “incredible historical opportunity” to Ukraine, including investment in its economy and natural resources, while also seeking to recover hundreds of billions of dollars from the war. Despite the challenges, Waltz believes that the relationship between Washington and Kyiv can be resolved, and he has urged Ukraine to carefully analyze the agreement and sign it. As the conflict continues, it’s essential to consider the multifaceted nature of the issue and the various perspectives involved.