Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday accused U.S. President Donald Trump of being caught in a “space of disinformation,” urging Trump’s team to gain a clearer understanding of what he called the “truth about Ukraine.”
Speaking at a press briefing in Kyiv, Zelenskyy dismissed Trump’s claim that his approval rating in Ukraine was just 4%, arguing that such figures stem from Russian propaganda. He further accused Trump of indirectly assisting Russian President Vladimir Putin in breaking Russia’s international isolation.
Zelenskyy also criticized U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio for calling the Ukraine war a “conflict,” viewing this as a sign of Washington’s shifting stance. Addressing concerns over U.S. financial aid to Ukraine, he admitted the need for greater transparency while revealing that Ukraine’s war costs amounted to $320 billion, with Washington contributing about $67 billion in military support. He emphasized that Ukraine “will not achieve victory without U.S. support” but warned against any negotiations between the U.S. and Russia that exclude Kyiv.
On another note, Zelenskyy rejected a proposed U.S.-Ukraine agreement on rare earth metals, claiming it would force Ukraine to cede 50% of its resources without adequate security guarantees. He questioned the jurisdiction of the deal under U.S. laws, stressing that the agreement exceeded his constitutional powers. He concluded by warning that any agreements made without Ukraine’s direct involvement would be unacceptable.
