A News Conference Between Zelenskyy and Trump’s Ukraine Envoy is Canceled Amid Growing Tensions
Ukraine and the US
A planned news conference after talks between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US President Donald Trump’s Ukraine envoy was canceled Thursday as political tensions deepened between the two countries over how to end the almost three-year war with Russia.
The Format of the Press Event
The format of the press event, which was to include comments to the media by Zelenskyy and retired US Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, was changed at the last minute so that the two did not deliver statements or field questions from journalists. The change was requested by the US side, Ukrainian presidential spokesman Serhii Nikiforov said.
Kellogg’s Trip to Kyiv
Kellogg’s trip to Kyiv coincided with recent feuding between Trump and Zelenskyy that has bruised their personal relations and cast further doubt on the future of US support for Ukraine’s war effort.
Reason for Cancellation
Nikiforov gave no other reason other than that the cancellation was in accordance with US wishes. The US delegation made no immediate comment, and the White House did not immediately respond to questions about why the news conference was called off.
The Meeting
When the meeting began, photographers and video journalists were allowed into a room where the two men shook hands before sitting across from each other at a table at the presidential office in Kyiv.
About the Meeting
The two men were due to speak about Trump’s efforts to end the war. Zelenskyy had previously said he looked forward to explaining what was happening in Ukraine and showing it to Kellogg.
Zelenskyy and Trump’s Feud
Zelenskyy and Trump have traded rebukes in recent days. The spat erupted after Russia and the US agreed to start working toward ending the war in Ukraine and improving their diplomatic and economic ties. With that, Trump abruptly reversed the three-year US policy of isolating Russia.
Zelenskyy’s Response
Zelenskyy was unhappy that a US team opened the talks without inviting him or European governments that have backed Kyiv.
Trump’s Response
Trump accused Zelenskyy of being “A Dictator without Elections!!” due to the war, Ukraine did delay elections that were scheduled for April 2024. Trump also suggested that Ukraine was to blame for the war.
International Reactions
European leaders also commented on the feud, throwing their support behind Zelenskyy. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, whose country has been Kyiv’s second-biggest weapons supplier after the US, said it was “wrong and dangerous” to deny Zelenskyy’s democratic legitimacy. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke to Zelenskyy on Wednesday and expressed support for him “as Ukraine’s democratically elected leader.”
Russian Reactions
Russian officials, meanwhile, are basking in Washington’s attention and offering words of support for Trump’s stance. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said “the rhetoric of Zelenskyy and many representatives of the Kyiv regime in general leaves much to be desired” – a veiled reference to Ukrainian criticism of Putin.
Ongoing Violence in Ukraine
Amid the diplomatic clamor, Ukrainian civilians continue to endure Russian strikes. Russia fired 161 Shahed and decoy drones and up to 14 missiles of various types at Ukraine overnight from Wednesday to Thursday, according to military authorities. A Russian glide bomb struck an apartment block in the southern city of Kherson on Wednesday night, killing one person and wounding six, including 14-year-old twins, authorities said. The southern port city of Odesa also came under a Russian drone attack for the second consecutive night, leaving almost 50,000 homes without electricity in freezing winter temperatures, officials said.
Conclusion
The cancellation of the news conference reflects the growing tensions between Ukraine and the US over how to end the war with Russia. The feud between Trump and Zelenskyy has cast doubt on the future of US support for Ukraine’s war effort, and the ongoing violence in Ukraine continues to affect civilians. International leaders have thrown their support behind Zelenskyy, while Russian officials have welcomed Washington’s attention and offered words of support for Trump’s stance.
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