The US special envoy to Ukraine and Russia, Keith Kellogg, held a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv on Thursday. This meeting comes at a time when the relationship between the two countries is strained, particularly following recent public disagreements between President Donald Trump and President Zelensky regarding diplomatic efforts towards peace talks.
In his address, President Zelensky expressed optimism about the meeting, stating that it represents a step in the right direction and emphasizing the importance of strong agreements with America that will be effective.
President Trump's criticism of President Zelensky escalated on Wednesday when he referred to Zelensky as 'a dictator' and accused him of pressuring the US into funding a war that Trump deemed unwinnable. In response, Zelensky accused Trump of perpetuating Russian disinformation about the conflict, highlighting a divergence in their perspectives.
Following the meeting with the US envoy, Zelensky described it as productive and stressed the benefits of strong Ukraine-US relations for global stability. Discussions between the two officials covered topics such as the battlefield situation, prisoner exchanges, and security guarantees. Notably, Ukraine rejected a proposal from the White House that involved sharing rare earth mineral revenues as repayment for past aid without ensuring future assistance.
The United States is facing resistance in including a reference to 'Russian aggression' in a joint statement by the Group of Seven nations commemorating the third anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. There are concerns about the framing of the conflict in the document, with President Trump even suggesting Russia's readmission to the G7 despite its annexation of Crimea in 2014.
Trump's national security adviser, Mike Waltz, avoided directly addressing whether Trump holds Zelensky or Russian President Vladimir Putin more accountable for the ongoing conflict, citing the president's frustration with Zelensky. Vice President JD Vance defended the administration's negotiation approach with Russia, emphasizing Trump's willingness to consider all options during peace talks.
Republican Senator Thom Tillis criticized Trump's recent remarks, labeling Putin as a 'cancer' that should not be accommodated. Tillis condemned Putin's use of 'terrorist tactics' against Ukrainian civilians and squarely blamed the Russian president for the ongoing war.
