Trump: 'War Profiteering' vs Zelenskyy: 'Living in False Information Space'

Daily War of Words... Ukraine Peace Negotiations Getting Complicated

Trump: "Dictator Who Didn't Hold Elections"

Zelenskyy: "Helped End Russia's Isolation"

Conflict Intensifies with Daily Exchanges

Growing European Concerns over US-Russia Proximity

UK & German Leaders Criticize "Dangerous Remarks"

Republican Party Also Refutes Trump's Statements

As the United States and Russia begin peace negotiations excluding Ukraine, President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy are engaging in daily verbal battles. When President Trump explicitly criticized President Zelenskyy as "a dictator who hasn't held elections," President Zelenskyy responded by saying Trump is "living in an information space of lies." European allies are reacting that President Trump is making unfounded arguments.

◇ Trump's Continuous Attacks on Zelenskyy

At an event hosted by Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund in Miami, Florida on the 19th (local time), President Trump stated, "President Zelenskyy has done terrible things," adding that "Ukraine has been shattered and millions have unnecessarily lost their lives." Targeting President Zelenskyy, Trump claimed, "He convinced America to spend $350 billion (about 505 trillion won) and engaged in an unwinnable war." He then remarked that "President Zelenskyy probably wants to maintain this 'easy money-making.'" This was a sarcastic reference to Ukraine receiving massive aid from the United States.

President Zelenskyy reacted strongly to President Trump's 'pro-Russia stance.' Although he had previously maintained a conciliatory attitude to win Trump's favor, this time he directly refuted Trump's claims on national television. He countered Trump's previous statements that Zelenskyy's approval rating was only 4% and that he hadn't held elections despite his term ending, where Trump had said, "He needs to hold elections quickly. Otherwise, he'll lose the country." Recent Ukrainian polls actually show President Zelenskyy's approval rating at about 50%. Additionally, while Zelenskyy's term ended on March 20 last year, elections were constitutionally postponed due to martial law following Russia's 2022 invasion.

Regarding the US-Russia talks held in Saudi Arabia the previous day, President Zelenskyy criticized that it "helped end Russia's isolation that had continued for three years." He also objected to President Trump's demand for 50% of rare earth mineral shares in exchange for Ukraine support, saying "we cannot sell our country."

◇ US-Russia Proximity... Signs of Friction with Europe

As the U.S. stance on Ukraine peace negotiations suddenly changes, concerns are rising within Europe and the Republican Party. While Russia could escape international isolation through sanctions relief, conflicts between the U.S. and Europe defending Ukraine could grow larger. A French government spokesperson criticized Trump's suggestion that 'President Zelenskyy is responsible for this war' as "incomprehensible." German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called it "lies and dangerous" to label President Zelenskyy a 'dictator.'

Within the Republican Party, opposition to President Trump's pro-Russia statements is spreading. Congressman Don Bacon posted on X (formerly Twitter), "Vladimir Putin started this war. Putin committed war crimes. Putin is the dictator." Representatives Mike Lawler and Brian Fitzpatrick also criticized on social media, calling President Putin "an evil dictator and thug" and "a dictator without elections."

Analysts suggest Russia ultimately benefits from this internal division. The Financial Times (FT) reported that "the Ukraine peace negotiations led by the U.S. are proceeding quite favorably for Russia" and predicted that "Russia could gain much from these negotiations." Professor Sergei Radchenko of Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies said, "Russia and the U.S. are meeting as equal partners." Russia has also been calling for Ukrainian elections. FT reported that Putin hasn't abandoned his plan to establish a 'pro-Russian puppet' regime in Ukraine.

Sang-mi Ahn reporter saramin@hankyung.com