Trump Criticizes Ukraine’s Leadership Over Exclusion from US-Russia Peace Talks
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| Trump Slams Ukraine’s Leadership Over US-Russia Talks Exclusion |
Speaking to reporters after high-level discussions in Riyadh on Tuesday, Trump was asked about Ukrainians who felt “betrayed or disappointed” by their absence from the negotiations.
“I’m really disappointed in what’s happened. I’ve been watching this for three years… They’re upset about not having a seat. Well, they’ve had a seat for three years and a long time before that,” Trump said.
He added that the conflict “could have been settled very easily,” claiming that even an inexperienced negotiator could have resolved it years ago “without the loss of much land, very little land. Without the loss of any lives and without the loss of cities.”
When questioned about US support for elections in Ukraine, Trump hinted that Ukraine’s leadership should consider holding them. “Wouldn’t the people of Ukraine have to say, like, you know, it’s been a long time since we’ve had an election?”
Trump also made an unsubstantiated claim that Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky’s approval rating is just 4%. Zelensky’s presidential term officially ended in May 2023, but he has refused to hold new elections, citing martial law due to the ongoing conflict. Russia, meanwhile, considers Zelensky “illegitimate” and recognizes Ukraine’s parliament as the only legitimate authority.
The remarks followed US-Russia talks in Saudi Arabia, which both sides described as productive. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov noted that the delegations worked “quite successfully” on improving relations. Key outcomes included agreements to restore embassy staffing after years of diplomatic expulsions and to establish teams focused on resolving the Ukraine conflict.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio acknowledged that addressing Western sanctions against Russia would be necessary for a lasting solution.
Zelensky, whose government was not invited to the talks, criticized the negotiations, stating that any discussions about Ukraine held without its participation would yield “no results.” He also emphasized that Ukraine would reject any ultimatums stemming from the Riyadh negotiations.
Trump’s comments highlight ongoing tensions between the US and Ukraine, while underscoring the complexities of brokering peace in a conflict that has drawn in global powers. The exclusion of Ukraine from the talks has sparked debate about the effectiveness of such negotiations and the role of the country’s leadership in shaping its future.