As talks about a possible end to the war in Ukraine intensify, President Donald Trump has sharply criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. His latest remarks, made after high-level talks between US and Russian officials in Saudi Arabia, could deepen concerns among Ukraine’s supporters, especially as Trump moves closer to a potential summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
During the talks in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday (Feb 18, 2025), which aimed to explore ways to bring the ongoing conflict to a close, Zelensky was excluded from the discussions. The meeting lasted over four hours, with both US and Russian officials publicly calling it a ‘positive’ step forward. Trump, who spoke about the meeting afterward, expressed confidence that a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine could be within reach, stating that he felt a meeting with Putin could take place before the end of February.
However, Zelensky’s office expressed frustration over the exclusion, with the Ukrainian president admitting that they had only learned about the talks through the media. Zelensky even went so far as to cancel an unrelated visit to Saudi Arabia in protest of the talks, which he felt were organized behind Ukraine’s back. According to reports, Zelensky said “We were not invited to the meeting between the U.S. and Russia in Saudi Arabia. It was a surprise for us.”
In contrast, Trump dismissed Ukrainian complaints, remarking that Ukraine had ‘a seat at the table for three years,’ and that the country could have settled the conflict with Russia earlier. “When they are worried about not being seated, they could have made a deal long ago,” he stated. Trump’s comments point to a broader criticism of Ukraine’s handling of the war, suggesting that the Zelensky administration had failed to secure peace before the conflict escalated.
The president took aim at Zelensky’s leadership, casting doubt on the Ukrainian government’s handling of domestic affairs. Trump highlighted the lack of elections in Ukraine, which has been under martial law for nearly a year due to the ongoing war. “The leader in Ukraine is down at 4% approval ratings. Wouldn’t the people of Ukraine need to have an election? Ukraine is being wiped out,” Trump said.
However, recent polling in Ukraine actually shows that Zelensky’s approval hovers around 50%, a reflection of the country’s resilience and widespread support for its president during the war. Since last year during his election campaign Trump has often questioned Zelensky’s role in the conflict and implying that Ukraine could have avoided the war had it acted differently.
“You should have never started it,” Trump said, suggesting that Zelensky could have struck a deal with Russia before the war escalated into its current state. “I like him personally, but it is the leadership that allowed the war to go on,” he added.