Trump criticizes Zelenskyy over elections and US funding, saying he can arrange a deal to “stop the killing of potentially additional millions of people” as US-Russia peace negotiations move forward without Kiev.
As Washington engaged in peace discussions with Moscow that have so far excluded Kiev, US President Donald Trump called for elections in Ukraine as his distance from President Volodymyr Zelenskyy deepened.
The Zelenskyy’s remarks during a press interview earlier this month were referenced by Trump on Wednesday. “It’s wonderful to say, you know, we can’t have an election, but it’s time for elections, and it’s also time to find out what happened with all the money, because he made the statement that half the money, he doesn’t know where it is, or something like that,” Trump said.
And we’re doing great with Russia, I can assure you. With Russia, we’re going to accomplish something that he couldn’t. To prevent the deaths of possibly more millions of people, we could reach an agreement with Russia,” he continued.
When Zelenskyy’s five-year term as president ended in April 2024, Ukraine was scheduled to conduct elections; but, because of Russia’s nearly three-year occupation of the country’s east, the country is currently under martial law. Since 2014, the Crimean Peninsula in Ukraine has been under Kremlin occupation.
Trump’s remarks followed the first high-level meetings between US and Russian officials since Russia launched its war on Ukraine in February 2022, which took place in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday. The delegations agreed to hold more rounds of talks to end the war and strengthen bilateral ties as the talks came to a close.
Zelenskyy has reacted angrily to Trump’s assertions that Ukraine, not Russia, started the current conflict and to his exclusion from the talks.
“We are aware that this misinformation comes from Russia because we have seen it. We have proof that representatives from the United States and Russia are discussing these numbers. Zelenskyy said on Wednesday, “Unfortunately, Trump is stuck in this misinformation space.”
In retaliation, Trump referred to Zelenskyy as a “dictator without elections.”
Trump responded, “I do,” when asked by a reporter if he believes the Russians would continue to engage in sincere negotiations. The Russians, I believe, want the war to finish.
“But I think they have the cards a little bit, because, you know, they’ve taken a lot of territory, so they have the cards,” he continued.
Mineral agreement with Ukraine
Trump’s remarks that Zelenskyy supposedly doesn’t know where billions of dollars in US aid have gone are probably a reference to an interview he did with The Associated Press on February 2.
“I have heard previously, and I heard again today, that the United States of America donated Ukraine hundreds of billions of dollars—177 billion, to be exact. That’s how the precise number that the Congress voted on or backed sounded, etc. In an excerpt of the interview with captions in English, he stated, “Look, as the president of a warring country, I will tell you that we received just over 75.”
In other words, we have never received 100 billion of this 177 billion, or 200 billion, as some individuals even claim. And this is significant because we are discussing particular topics,” he stated.
About $175 billion has been set aside by Congress to support Ukraine’s military effort, but the majority of that money is used for domestic and other purposes outside of Ukraine. About $106 billion of the entire amount spent went directly to Ukraine, according to a review of the expenditures put up by the think tank Council on Foreign Relations.
In addition, Trump stated that he thinks he can “resurrect” a crucial minerals agreement with Ukraine that would require them to cede ownership rights to rare earth and other minerals in the nation in exchange for US military support, obliquely implying that “things are not going to make” Zelenskyy “too happy.”
“They essentially consented to it. In reference to his Treasury secretary’s trip to Ukraine this week, Trump stated, “And then Scott Bessent actually went there and was treated rather rudely, because essentially they told him no.”
“He arrived empty-handed after going there to have a document signed. They refused to sign the paperwork.
