Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized the White House for allegedly succumbing to Kremlin propaganda. The Ukrainian leader said some in the Donald Trump administration were incorrectly convinced that Kiev did not want to reach a deal with Moscow.
“I believe Russia has managed to influence some people on the White House team through information,” Zelensky said in an interview with TIME magazine published on Sunday.
Trump has faced criticisms that he has been under the influence of Russian President Vladimir Putin since he first ran for president. During the Russiagate saga following the 2016 race, Trump faced a seemingly endless string of allegations that he was under the control of the Kremlin, all of which were thoroughly debunked.
Still, American politicians and political commentators frequently attack Trump for being too close to Russia.
Zelensky offered Kiev’s position on ceasefire talks as proof of the Kremlin’s sway in the White House. “[Russia’s] signal to the Americans was that the Ukrainians do not want to end the war, and something should be done to force them,” he said.
However, during a heated Oval Office exchange between Zelensky, Trump, and Vice President JD Vance last month, the Ukrainian leader attacked Vance for advocating diplomacy with Russia.
While Zelensky did not cite any members of the Trump administration by name, Oleksandr Merezhko, chair of Ukraine’s foreign affairs committee, attacked Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff. The Ukrainian lawmaker questioned whether Witkoff worked for Putin or Trump, then went on to demand that he be fired.
Witkoff “should be removed as a representative of Trump because he discredits the United States and the US foreign policy,” Merezhko said.
The criticism of the Trump administration comes as US and Ukrainian officials continue to engage in talks in Saudi Arabia. On Sunday and Monday, US and Ukrainian delegations met in Riyadh. Russian officials similarly held direct talks with American officials in Riyadh on Monday as well.
