Zelensky angered Trump with his criticism of U.S.-Russia talks in Saudi Arabia – The Guardian

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky “angered” Donald Trump with criticism of U.S.-Russia talks in Saudi Arabia.

According to The Guardian, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky “angered” former U.S. President Donald Trump by criticizing the negotiations between the U.S. and Russia in Saudi Arabia. The publication links this to Trump’s “series of attacks on Zelensky” made last night.

“The Ukrainian president’s comments appear to have angered Trump,” The Guardian states.

It is worth noting that Trump recently blamed Kyiv for the start of the war, accused Zelensky of being unwilling to negotiate, and urged him to hold elections. Trump also claimed that Zelensky has a low approval rating of around 4% and, in his view, is not in a position to represent Ukraine at the negotiating table.

The Times believes that these statements “will alarm the Ukrainian leadership.”

During a briefing the day before, Trump remarked that Zelensky should not have “started” the war and criticized Ukrainian authorities for failing to negotiate over the past three years.

This was in response to Zelensky’s criticism of the U.S.-Russia talks in Saudi Arabia.

“Today I heard: ‘Oh, we weren’t invited.’ Well, you were there for three years. You should have ended this three years ago. You shouldn’t have started this. You could have made a deal. I could have made a deal for Ukraine that would have left them with almost all their land, and not a single person would have been killed, not a single city destroyed. But they chose not to do it that way. And President Biden has been terrible at this,” Trump said.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials responded to Trump’s harsh criticism by posting a series of motivational messages.

“We continue to work and fight for independence,” wrote Andriy Yermak, head of the President’s Office.

“We will endure,” stated Kyrylo Budanov, head of the Main Intelligence Directorate.

“Everything will be Ukraine, friends,” wrote Andriy Kovalenko, head of the Center for Countering Disinformation under the National Security and Defense Council.

Ukrainian MP Maryana Bezuhla took a more direct approach, bluntly telling Trump off with an explicit phrase.

“Sorry, but I must suggest that the U.S. president follow the Russian warship,” she wrote, referencing the well-known Ukrainian phrase directed at the Russian military.

Earlier, Zelensky had also stated that Kyiv would not recognize the outcome of the U.S.-Russia talks in Riyadh.