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Trump in a Russian-made ‘disinformation house,’ says Ukraine’s Zelenskyy


By HANNA ARHIROVA and JUSTIN SPIKE, Related Press

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday of residing in a Russian-made “disinformation house,” pointed feedback that danger additional souring relations with Washington because the American chief pushes for an finish to the battle.

In the meantime, Russian President Vladimir Putin mentioned he wish to meet with Trump, a day after senior American and Russian officers held talks that had been partially geared toward making ready simply such a summit.

Zelenskyy mentioned he “would love Trump’s workforce to be extra truthful” in his first response to a sequence of putting claims the U.S. president made the day gone by, together with suggesting that Kyiv was guilty for the battle, which enters its fourth yr subsequent week.

Russia’s military crossed the border on Feb. 24, 2022, in an all-out invasion that Putin sought to justify by saying it was wanted to guard civilians in japanese Ukraine and forestall the nation from becoming a member of NATO. Ukraine and its allies denounced it as an unprovoked act of aggression.

The feedback from Trump and Zelenskyy had been a exceptional back-and-forth between leaders of two international locations which were staunch allies lately underneath Trump’s predecessor, because the U.S. offered essential navy tools to Kyiv to fend off the invasion and used its political weight to defend Ukraine and isolate Russia on the world stage.

The Trump administration has began charting a brand new course, reaching out to Russia and pushing for a peace deal. Senior officers from each international locations held talks on Tuesday to debate enhancing ties, negotiating an finish to the battle and probably making ready a gathering between Trump and Putin after years of frosty relations.

From proper, U.S. Particular Envoy Keith Kellogg, United States Vice-President JD Vance and United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio meet with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the Munich Safety Convention in Munich, Germany, Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. (AP Picture/Matthias Schrader)

“I wish to have a gathering, however it must be ready in order that it brings outcomes,” Putin mentioned Wednesday in televised remarks. He added that he could be “happy” to fulfill Trump however famous that Trump has acknowledged that the Ukrainian settlement may take longer than he had initially hoped.

Zelenskyy’s remarks Wednesday got here shortly earlier than he was anticipated to fulfill with Keith Kellogg, the U.S. particular envoy for Ukraine and Russia as a part of the administration’s current diplomatic blitz.

Ukraine and its European supporters have expressed concern that they weren’t invited to the talks between prime American and Russian diplomats in Saudi Arabia — amid bigger worries that the deal taking form might be unfavorable to Kyiv.

At a information convention Tuesday, Trump confirmed little endurance for Ukraine’s objections to being excluded from the talks. He additionally mentioned, with out offering the supply, that Zelenskyy’s approval score stood at 4%, whereas telling reporters that Ukraine “ought to have by no means began” the battle and “may have made a deal” to stop it.

Zelenskyy replied in his personal information convention Wednesday that “we have now seen this disinformation. We perceive that it’s coming from Russia.” He mentioned that Trump “lives on this disinformation house.”

Zelenskyy mentioned he hoped Kellogg would stroll by way of Kyiv and “ask (Ukrainians) in the event that they belief their president? Do they belief Putin? Let him ask about Trump, what they suppose after the statements made by their president.”

Russian state TV and different state-controlled media reacted with glee to what they portrayed as Trump’s chilly shoulder to Zelenskyy.

“Trump isn’t even making an attempt to cover his irritation with Zelenskyy,” the Rossiya channel mentioned on the prime of its newscast.

“Trump steamrolled Zelenskyy for his complaints in regards to the talks with Russia,” the each day Komsomolskaya Pravda mentioned.

Trump additionally steered Ukraine ought to carry elections, which have been postponed because of the battle and the resultant imposition of martial regulation, in accordance with the Ukrainian Structure.

Zelenskyy additionally referred to “the story” that 90% of all assist obtained by Ukraine comes from america.

He mentioned that, as an illustration, about 34% of all weapons in Ukraine are domestically produced and over 30% of help comes from Europe.

The battlefield has introduced extra grim information for Ukraine in current months. A relentless onslaught in japanese areas by Russia’s greater military is grinding down Ukrainian forces, who’re slowly however steadily being pushed backward at some factors on the 1,000-kilometer (600-mile) entrance line.

American officers have signaled that Ukraine’s hopes of becoming a member of NATO as a way to keep at bay Russian aggression after reaching a potential peace settlement received’t occur. Zelenskyy says any settlement would require U.S. safety commitments to maintain Russia at bay.

“We perceive the necessity for safety ensures,” Kellogg mentioned in feedback carried by Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne Novyny on his arrival at Kyiv’s practice station.

“It’s very clear to us the significance of the sovereignty of this nation and the independence of this nation as nicely. … A part of my mission is to sit down and pay attention,” the retired three-star normal mentioned.

Kellogg mentioned he would convey what he learns on his go to to Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio to “make sure that we get this one proper.”

Observe AP’s protection of the battle in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine

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