The rift between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy has deepened, with both leaders engaging in a battle of reproaches and attacks. At the center of the controversy is the potential end of the war, thanks to Washington’s approach to Russia under Vladimir Putin. Zelenskyy has accused Trump of “living in a Russian misinformation space,” where he’s misguided by disinformation originating from Russia. This sentiment was expressed during a press conference, where the Ukrainian president showed respect for Trump as the leader of the American people, but lamented his perceived misinformed stance.
Just hours before, Trump had made a statement that Zelenskyy is extremely unpopular in Ukraine, claiming he only has the support of 4% of the population. This figure, which doesn’t appear to stem from any known survey, was mentioned again by Trump as he urged Zelenskyy to convene elections as soon as possible. However, it’s worth noting that Zelenskyy’s mandate, which ended last May, was automatically renewed due to Ukrainian law prohibiting elections during the ongoing martial law. This martial law has been in effect since the beginning of the Russian invasion, making Trump’s demand for immediate elections a point of contention.
The Russian president, Vladimir Putin, has also weighed in, stating that Zelenskyy lacks the legitimacy to sign any peace agreement since he hasn’t been re-elected. Yet, no survey in Ukraine suggests that Zelenskyy’s popularity has dipped below 50%. In fact, the most recent survey, published by the International Institute of Sociology of Kyiv, indicates that 57% of Ukrainians trust Zelenskyy. This discrepancy has significant implications for the political landscape and the potential for future negotiations.
Zelenskyy Reveals the Cost of US and EU Weapons
Meanwhile, Russia continues to view Trump as a unique leader among Western nations. Sergei Lavrov, the Russian Foreign Minister, praised Trump for publicly acknowledging that the previous administration’s actions, particularly regarding NATO, contributed to the Ukrainian situation. Lavrov noted that Trump’s willingness to acknowledge this perspective sets him apart from other Western leaders.
Zelenskyy has also provided insight into the financial costs associated with the war effort. In response to Trump’s claim that Kyiv agreed to a $500 billion pact with the US in exchange for support over the past three years, Zelenskyy revealed that the actual military cost has been around $320 billion. He further explained that the United States and the EU contributed $200 billion of this sum in defense support. Breaking down the numbers, Zelenskyy stated that the US provided approximately $67 billion in arms and $31.5 billion in budget support. This clarification comes after Trump asserted that the total US economic support amounts to $350 billion, highlighting the need for accurate information in the public discourse.
