The relationships between Ukraine and the United States have continued to deteriorate in recent hours. Elon Musk sparked controversy by referring to Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian leader, as “a president despised by his country,” while European leaders have defended him as a “legitimate and respected” leader. Meanwhile, the United States has opposed Russia as an aggressor in a G7 statement, marking the third anniversary of Moscow’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine. This move threatens to derail unity within the strategic group, according to reports from The Financial Times, which cite Western officials as sources.
The participation of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a virtual G7 summit on Monday has not been agreed upon, officials stated, while the office of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced that she would not participate, as quoted by the FT. In another development, American Vice President JD Vance stated last night that “we are about to achieve peace in Europe thanks to Trump.” Additionally, Mike Waltz, the National Security Advisor of the United States, invited Ukraine to “sign the agreement” on rare earths proposed by Donald Trump.
The idea behind the agreement, as explained by Scott Besent, Secretary of the United States Treasury, is to “convince the US people” of the benefits of supporting Kyiv and then warn the Russians “that the United States would take new sanctions if necessary.” These recent developments highlight the complex and evolving nature of international relations surrounding the Ukraine conflict.
Last minute about the Ukraine War, live
As the situation continues to unfold, it’s clear that the international community remains deeply divided on how to address the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. With the United States, European leaders, and other global actors each pursuing their own strategies, the path forward remains uncertain. The rare earth agreement proposed by Donald Trump and the potential for new sanctions against Russia are just a few of the many factors at play in this complex and dynamic situation.