**US President Trump Criticizes Ukraine’s Leader**
US President Donald Trump said on February 21 that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is not important to negotiations to end the war in Ukraine. Trump made these comments during a radio interview.
He claimed that Zelensky did a bad job negotiating with Russia, which sparked concern among European allies and the government in Kyiv. They are worried about Washington’s stance on the war, particularly after US officials held direct talks with Russia in Saudi Arabia last week.
**Zelensky Rejects Secret Talks**
Ukrainian President Zelensky rejected the idea of peace negotiations being conducted behind Ukraine’s back. He made this clear on February 16.
Meanwhile, Trump has also made false claims about Ukraine in recent days. He called Zelensky a “dictator” and accused him of refusing to hold elections. However, Ukraine’s constitution prohibits elections during martial law, which has been in effect since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022.
**US Envoy on Ukraine**
Trump’s special envoy for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, said that Europe will not be directly involved in negotiations to end the war in Ukraine. However, European interests will still be considered.
**Russia Holds the Cards**
Trump also stated that Russia “holds the cards” in any peace talks due to its control over a significant portion of Ukrainian territory. He announced plans to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Saudi Arabia, but it’s unclear what role Ukraine will play in those talks.
**Public Support for Zelensky**
Despite Trump’s criticism, 57% of Ukrainians trust Zelensky, according to a recent poll by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology. This is a five-point increase since December.
U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz said that President Zelensky will sign a deal and that Ukraine will see progress in the short term.
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