Local time on February 19, U.S. President Trump went all out, criticizing Ukrainian President Zelensky, calling him an 'unelected dictator,' and bluntly stating that if Zelensky does not quickly push for a peace process, Ukraine will face a national crisis. This statement instantly caused a huge uproar in the international political arena.
Just hours before Trump's remarks, Zelensky was countering Trump's earlier accusations that Ukraine provoked the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Zelensky emphasized that Trump is trapped in a swamp of Russian disinformation, and his views are unfounded. On social media, Trump not only mocked Zelensky's past as a 'somewhat accomplished comedian' but also directly labeled him a 'dictator,' a stance that almost completely denies Ukraine's equal status in the Russia-Ukraine negotiations.
In response to Trump's tough remarks, Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba quickly responded on platform X, firmly stating that Ukraine will never bow down and will do its utmost to defend its right to exist. In fact, Zelensky's five-year term was originally scheduled to end in 2024, but due to Ukraine being under martial law, presidential and parliamentary elections have been forced to be postponed.
Currently, Russia occupies about 20% of Ukrainian territory and is steadily advancing in the eastern regions. Moscow emphasizes that its 'special military operation' is in response to the threat that Kyiv's desire to join NATO poses to Russia's national security. On the same day, Zelensky met with Trump’s Ukrainian envoy Keith Kellogg in Kyiv, hoping to provide the Trump team with a deeper understanding of the actual situation in Ukraine and to correct Trump's one-sided perception. Previously, Trump claimed that Ukraine 'should not have provoked' the conflict with Russia, which has sparked strong dissatisfaction from Ukraine and Europe.
Zelensky firmly denied Trump's claim of a 4% approval rating, stating that it is a piece of false information fabricated by Russia, and emphasized that any attempts to replace him would not succeed. According to a public opinion poll conducted by the Kyiv International Sociology Institute in early February, 57% of the Ukrainian public trusts Zelensky, which is in stark contrast to Trump's statement.
U.S. Vice President Vance also quickly intervened in this public opinion storm, warning Zelensky that disparaging Trump is not a wise move and does not help establish good communication with the U.S. government. Additionally, UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric clearly pointed out that Zelensky came to power through formal elections. German Chancellor Scholz even stated that Trump's labeling of Zelensky as a dictator is 'wrong and dangerous.'
Recently, the Trump administration has been very active regarding the Russia-Ukraine issue, with Trump even revealing that he might meet with Putin this month. Putin has also stated that Ukraine will not be excluded from peace negotiations, but the level of trust between the U.S. and Russia will directly impact the negotiation results. Previously, the first talks held in Riyadh did not invite representatives from Ukraine and European governments, which undoubtedly deepened concerns that the U.S. and Russia might reach an agreement bypassing them.
On the economic and diplomatic front, the 27 member states of the European Union approved the sixteenth round of sanctions against Russia on Wednesday, covering aluminum products and vessels suspected of transporting Russian-sanctioned oil. The EU's foreign affairs department also proposed increasing military aid to Ukraine, demonstrating its determination to support Kyiv. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson emphasized that although the EU has not fully unified its opinions on specific actions, the position to support Ukraine remains unwavering.
As the verbal sparring between Trump and Zelensky escalates, the future trajectory of the Russia-Ukraine conflict becomes increasingly murky, with the international community closely monitoring the subsequent actions of all parties, hoping for effective de-escalation of the tense situation.
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