"So Angry": Local Ukrainians Outraged at Trump Blaming Ukraine for the War
President Donald Trump sent shockwaves through Europe, Russia, and especially Ukraine Tuesday night when he seemed to take Russia’s side in its war with Ukraine.
False Accusations
The president falsely accused Ukraine of starting the war and amplified misinformation about European and American support for that nation’s war effort. As the fighting rages on, with Russia continuing to bomb civilian targets, a delegation from the United States, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, met with Russia’s foreign minister and other officials in Saudi Arabia to negotiate an end to the war. They did not invite Ukraine.
Insult to Injury
To add insult to injury, Trump did not acknowledge that Russia launched an unprovoked invasion of its neighbor as he spoke at a news conference, solely blaming Ukraine. "And I think I have the power to end this war, and I think it’s going very well. But today I heard, oh, well, we weren’t invited. Well, you’ve been there for three years. You should have ended it three years ago. You should have never started it, you could have made a deal," Trump said.
Local Reactions
Marianna Watermann, a Ukraine activist, expressed her outrage, saying, "It makes me so angry, it, like, I don’t even have words." Darya Robinson, also a Ukraine activist, added, "A lot of anger, a lot of outrage."
Background on Ukraine Activists
Robinson and Watermann are part of a group called Florida For Ukraine, a nonprofit that raises money for Ukrainian refugees and for the country’s war effort. Watermann is from Russia, but when Vladimir Putin launched the invasion of Ukraine, she burned her Russian passport in protest at a demonstration in Miami. She is now an American citizen and believes that Moscow is delighted that an American president is siding with Russia over a European democracy.
Doubts about Trump’s Message
Watermann believes that Trump’s words are sending a wrong message, saying, "Yeah, they are so happy because he’s repeating exactly what Putin was saying for the last ten years." Robinson added, "He’s definitely sending a wrong message that it’s OK."
Condemnation of Trump’s Statement
Robinson thinks that dictators will take the message that aggression will be tolerated or rewarded by the United States, even after thousands of civilians have been killed. "You cannot close your eyes and pretend that didn’t happen," she said.
Call to Action
Watermann will continue to donate money to the Ukrainian cause, and she keeps receiving "thank you" videos. One of them shows a group of soldiers in uniform, and one of them starts the message in English, saying, "Hello Marianna, thank you for your support." Three of the soldiers in the video have now been killed in action.
Conclusion
The human cost of Russia’s invasion should not be forgotten. Robinson and Watermann say if Putin really wants peace, all he has to do is withdraw his army from Ukraine, and they wish Trump would put that option on the table.
FAQs
Q: What did President Trump say about Ukraine?
A: Trump falsely accused Ukraine of starting the war and amplified misinformation about European and American support for that nation’s war effort.
Q: What is the reaction of local Ukrainians to Trump’s statement?
A: Many Ukrainians are outraged and angry, feeling that Trump’s words are sending a wrong message and siding with Russia over a European democracy.
Q: What is the purpose of the non-profit group Florida For Ukraine?
A: The group raises money for Ukrainian refugees and for the country’s war effort.
