Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy responded on Wednesday to Donald Trump’s claim that Ukraine bore responsibility for Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, asserting that the former U.S. president was ensnared in a web of Russian disinformation. Speaking prior to discussions with Trump’s envoy to Ukraine, Zelenskiy expressed a desire for Trump’s team to possess a more accurate understanding of the situation in Ukraine, particularly after Trump stated that Ukraine “should never have started” the conflict.

Zelenskiy countered Trump’s claim that his approval rating was merely 4%, labeling it as Russian disinformation and asserting that any efforts to unseat him would be unsuccessful. “We have evidence that these figures are being discussed between America and Russia. Unfortunately, President Trump … lives in this disinformation space,” Zelenskiy remarked during an interview with Ukrainian television. According to a recent poll conducted by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology in early February, 57% of Ukrainians expressed trust in Zelenskiy.

In the early days of his presidency, Trump significantly altered U.S. policy regarding Ukraine and Russia, effectively ending Washington’s strategy to isolate Russia following its invasion of Ukraine through a phone call with Putin and subsequent discussions between high-ranking U.S. and Russian officials.

Trump indicated the possibility of meeting with Putin this month. While the Kremlin suggested that preparations for such a meeting might take longer, Russia’s sovereign wealth fund anticipated that several U.S. companies could return to Russia by the second quarter. Putin remarked that he viewed the U.S.-Russia discussions in Saudi Arabia regarding the resolution of the war in Ukraine positively, stating, “There are results,” although no further details were provided.

These discussions have notably excluded both Ukraine and Europe, with Trump asserting that Europe must take greater responsibility to ensure any ceasefire. Zelenskiy proposed granting U.S. companies the rights to extract valuable minerals in Ukraine in exchange for U.S. security guarantees, but indicated that Trump was not presenting such an offer. During a press conference, Zelenskiy highlighted that the U.S. had provided Ukraine with $67 billion in military aid and $31.5 billion in budgetary support, while American demands for $500 billion in mineral rights were also mentioned.

U.S. Ukraine envoy Keith Kellogg was anticipated to meet with officials in Kyiv, where he expressed his expectation for significant discussions as the conflict nears its three-year anniversary. “We recognize the necessity for security guarantees,” Kellogg stated to reporters, adding that part of his role would involve “listening attentively.”

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov praised Trump for attributing the war in Ukraine to the previous U.S. support for Ukraine’s NATO aspirations.

EUROPE READIES NEW SANCTIONS AGAINST RUSSIA

Trump’s shift in U.S. policy has created a rift with allies in the 27-member European Union, whose representatives convened on Wednesday to finalize a 16th sanctions package against Russia, targeting aluminium and vessels suspected of transporting sanctioned Russian oil. France expressed confusion over Trump’s assertion that Ukraine bore responsibility for Russia’s invasion.

French President Emmanuel Macron planned to hold an informal discussion on Ukraine with several European leaders and NATO ally Canada at 4 p.m. (1500 GMT), following a similar meeting with leaders from Britain, Italy, Germany, Spain, Denmark, the Netherlands, and the European Union earlier in the week.

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson noted that while consensus among the 27 EU nations on a unified approach was lacking, significant progress had been made. “We must remain calm and continue our support for Ukraine,” he emphasized.

Russia currently controls approximately one-fifth of Ukraine and frequently targets towns and cities well beyond the 1,000-km (600-mile) front line in the east and south, where it is aggressively seeking to expand its territory. President Zelenskiy reported that Russia had launched a series of drone attacks on the southern city of Odesa on Wednesday, injuring four individuals, including a child, and damaging energy infrastructure. He indicated that at least 160,000 residents were left without heating amid freezing temperatures.

Russia claims that its strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure aim to weaken the nation’s military capabilities. The Kremlin asserts that it does not intentionally target civilians, despite the fact that thousands have lost their lives in the ongoing conflict.

In response, Ukraine has intensified its assaults on Russian oil pipelines and gas storage facilities. On Tuesday, Ukrainian forces reportedly reduced oil flows through a significant pipeline to Kazakhstan and global markets by 30-40%, as stated by Russian officials. President Putin remarked on Wednesday that the damage inflicted could not be repaired swiftly and accused Europe of orchestrating these actions.

In the village of Novopavlivkia, located near the front lines, homes damaged by precision bombs line streets that were once peaceful but now serve as vital routes for Ukrainian armored vehicles. Helicopters fly low overhead, accompanied by a continuous barrage of explosions and heavy machine gun fire.

Mykola Havrylov, the former village head, expressed his disappointment that Ukraine’s Western allies have not provided more immediate military and diplomatic assistance as Russian forces advance. “I don’t understand it, and I believe I’m not alone in this sentiment,” he stated.