Egypt Daily News – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on Thursday for “strong relations” between his country and the United States following his meeting with U.S. envoy Keith Kellogg in Kyiv, a day after sharp criticism from former President Donald Trump.
Tensions between Zelenskyy and Trump have risen this week due to Trump’s openness to Moscow, with both leaders exchanging criticism in press conferences and on social media.
The United States remains Ukraine’s largest financial and military supporter, but Trump has alarmed Kyiv and its European allies by initiating talks with Moscow. There are fears that a rapprochement between Washington and Moscow could lead to a peace deal favoring Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The dispute took a personal turn when Trump falsely claimed that Zelenskyy’s popularity was declining, prompting the Ukrainian leader to respond that Trump was “misled.”
Amid the ongoing tensions, Zelenskyy described his meeting with Kellogg as “productive,” stating that they had a “good discussion” about battlefield conditions, the return of Ukrainian prisoners of war, and effective security guarantees. He emphasized that “strong relations between Ukraine and the U.S. benefit the entire world.”
However, unlike usual visits by foreign envoys, there was no joint press conference or statement after the meeting as it was cancelled by the Americans.
“Unacceptable” Criticism
In the U.S., some Trump supporters have continued to criticize Zelenskyy. Elon Musk, in a post on X (formerly Twitter), claimed that Zelenskyy is “hated by the people of Ukraine.”
Meanwhile, National Security Advisor Michael Waltz told Fox News that Ukraine’s criticism of Trump was “unacceptable” and urged Zelenskyy to sign a deal granting the U.S. access to Ukraine’s mineral resources in exchange for past aid.
Trump has been pushing for Ukraine to allow the U.S. to benefit from its mineral wealth as compensation for the tens of billions of dollars in military and financial support provided during President Joe Biden’s tenure.
Zelenskyy rejected the proposed deal because it lacked “security guarantees” for Ukraine, which remains Kyiv’s primary condition for any agreement with Russia to end the war.
The dispute highlights a major shift in U.S. policy from Biden’s approach, which included strong military support for Ukraine and tough sanctions on Moscow. In contrast, Trump has criticized Zelenskyy and blamed him for the ongoing war.
After calling Zelenskyy a “dictator,” Trump continued to align with Moscow, saying on Wednesday that Russia has “gained a lot of territory” and is now “in a position of strength.”
European Reactions and Concerns
Despite declining approval ratings, Zelenskyy still enjoys support from more than 50% of Ukrainians, according to Kyiv International Institute of Sociology data.
European leaders have rallied behind Zelenskyy in response to Trump’s criticisms. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called Trump’s remarks “wrong and dangerous.”
The White House announced that Trump will meet with French President Emmanuel Macron in Washington on Monday and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer next Thursday, as European leaders seek to navigate the changing U.S. stance on Ukraine.
On Thursday, Macron clarified that France has no plans to send troops to Ukraine before a peace deal is reached. However, he urged European nations to boost their military efforts, warning that “we are entering a new era.”
Additionally, the Kremlin announced that Washington and Moscow have agreed to resume dialogue “in all areas,” with Putin stating that U.S. allies are “paying the price” for opposing Trump’s return to the White House.
Ukraine and Europe were notably excluded from high-level U.S.-Russia talks held in Saudi Arabia earlier this week, raising fears that they may be sidelined in future negotiations.
