Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy dismissed reports claiming his approval ratings had dropped to 4%, labeling them as part of a Russian disinformation campaign. Speaking on Ukrainian TV, he stated, “As we are talking about 4%, we have seen this disinformation, we understand it’s coming from Russia,” adding that any attempts to replace him during the ongoing war against Russia would not succeed.
At a press conference in Kyiv on Wednesday, Zelenskiy also highlighted the significant support Ukraine has received from the U.S., revealing that America has supplied $67 billion in weapons and $31.5 billion in budget support to Ukraine.
In response to US demands for the return of $500 billion in minerals, Zelenskiy firmly stated, “This is not a serious conversation,” asserting that he cannot and will not “sell his country.” The remarks came as Zelenskiy reiterated his commitment to leading Ukraine through the war against Russia.
Zelenskiy rejected deal with the US that would have transferred ownership of 50% of Ukraine’s critical minerals to the US, stating that it lacked essential security provisions Ukraine needs to protect itself from Russian aggression. Zelenskiy emphasized that while he is open to negotiations, he cannot “sell” Ukraine, asserting, “I defend Ukraine, I can’t sell our country.”
In discussing the proposed deal, Zelenskiy mentioned that he had initially agreed to some terms, but when told that only 50% of Ukraine’s critical minerals would be transferred, he rejected the offer. He pointed out that the legal teams involved had not done enough work on the document, urging them to revisit the details.
The ongoing issue of US aid to Ukraine has become a critical diplomatic matter as Kyiv works to maintain strong support from its key ally. In response to former President Donald Trump’s recent comments questioning the use of US funds sent to Ukraine, Zelenskiy clarified that combined aid from the US and European Union amounts to $200 billion, out of a total $320 billion spent on weaponry for the war effort. He further stated that the remaining $120 billion of the war’s cost has been shouldered by Ukrainians themselves.
(With Reuters Inputs)