Relations between the United States and Ukraine are literally falling apart before our eyes - weeks after the inauguration of US President Donald Trump. The New York Post claims, citing a source close to Trump, that “it is best for Zelensky and the world that he immediately leaves for France“.
Trump's entourage also confirms the president's publicly announced views of Washington - Zelensky and Ukraine are to blame for Russia's war. Trump even called Zelensky a “dictator”, and according to Kiev's European allies, the US president is repeating the narratives of Russian propaganda.
The favorite for German Chancellor Friedrich Merz expressed his shock at the statements of US President Donald Trump. “It's a classic mix of victim and executioner,“ Merz said.
The New York Post reports that Zelensky has fewer allies in Trump's inner circle. The deteriorating relationship between the two threatens to undermine Kiev's position in peace talks with Russia. Relations between the two leaders turned to open hostility this week after the Ukrainian president rejected an initial U.S. offer to give more than 50% of his country's rare earths to the United States in return for military aid.
Trump has called Zelensky a “dictator”, falsely claiming that the Ukrainian president has an approval rating of 4%, and even said that he provoked Russia's invasion in February 2022. Zelensky, in turn, accused US President Trump of being the victim of disinformation.
“The Trump administration clearly does not like Zelensky“, said a Ukrainian political analyst and active-duty soldier who requested anonymity. The US president's latest remarks show that he wants Ukrainian elections to be held as soon as possible and Zelensky to be replaced by someone more suitable for negotiations. Washington has called on Zelensky to call new elections, while Kiev has indicated that such elections will be held, but after the war.
The presidential election was supposed to be held in Ukraine last year, but was postponed due to martial law, declared by Zelensky on February 24, 2022 in response to the Russian invasion. According to the country's constitution, elections cannot be held during martial law.
Against this background, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that Trump was angry with Zelensky. "President Trump is very angry with President Zelensky," Marco Rubio said. "We care about Ukraine because it has implications for our allies and for the world at large. There has to be some gratitude," the US secretary of state said. Washington also wants to quickly negotiate a deal with Kiev that would make Ukraine's natural resources available for American investment.