In a sharply worded post on Truth Social, US President Donald Trump lashed out at Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky for what he characterized as inflammatory and counterproductive rhetoric amid an escalating phase in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Trump’s remarks came in response to Zelensky’s recent rebuke of Western nations-especially the United States-for what the Ukrainian leader described as “silence” in the face of a massive new wave of Russian airstrikes.

“Everything out of his mouth causes problems,” Trump wrote on May 26. “Everything out of his mouth causes problems, I don’t like it, and it better stop.” The statement underscored a growing frustration from the former and possibly future American leader, who has long maintained that the war in Ukraine would have been avoided entirely had he remained in office.

Trump’s comments mark a new low in the public relationship between the two leaders. Once seen as reluctant allies during the early years of the conflict and impeachment saga, Trump and Zelensky now appear firmly at odds over how the war should be addressed and resolved.

The immediate catalyst for Trump’s broadside was Zelensky’s recent accusation that the US and other Western allies have responded too passively to Russia’s latest military escalation. Following a series of deadly drone and missile strikes across Ukraine, Zelensky warned that inaction from Western powers could embolden Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“America’s silence, the silence of others in the world, only encourages Putin,” Zelensky stated during a national address, referencing the growing intensity of the Russian air campaign. He demanded increased sanctions and military support, insisting that vague diplomatic gestures and half-measures were not sufficient to deter Moscow’s aggression.

These remarks appeared to be a direct challenge to the current US strategy under Trump, which has emphasized diplomatic engagement and a reluctance to escalate the war further. According to Trump, this strategy is essential to avoid dragging the US into another prolonged foreign conflict.

Trump framed the conflict as a product of others’ failures, rather than a shared Western burden. “This is Zelensky’s, Putin’s, and Biden’s war-not Trump’s,” he declared. “I am only helping to put out the big and ugly fires that have been started through gross incompetence and hatred.”

The former president doubled down on his long-held position that the war would never have started under his watch. Critics have called this claim speculative, but Trump’s supporters argue that his often controversial approach to foreign policy-marked by transactional diplomacy and strategic unpredictability-might have deterred Putin from launching the invasion in the first place.

Still, Trump made it clear that his disapproval of Zelensky does not translate to approval of Putin. “Putin has gone absolutely CRAZY,” Trump posted. “He is targeting Ukraine for no reason whatsoever.” Despite this strong language, Trump has so far refrained from escalating sanctions on Moscow, a decision that has raised eyebrows in Washington and among European leaders.

The exchange between Trump and Zelensky comes amid one of the most intense surges in violence since the beginning of the war. According to Russian military officials, Ukraine launched over 200 drones at targets in Russian territory between May 20 and May 23. One such strike occurred while Putin was visiting the Kursk region, with Russian commanders alleging that his helicopter was caught in the attack zone.

In retaliation, the Russian Defense Ministry announced successful strikes on multiple Ukrainian targets, including a radar surveillance center, a drone and missile manufacturing facility, and a US-supplied Patriot missile battery near Kyiv. The ministry reiterated its usual claim that these strikes are not aimed at civilians but at military infrastructure designed to prolong the conflict.

Meanwhile, the Russian Foreign Ministry accused Ukraine of attempting to derail ongoing diplomatic discussions. “These provocations are designed to disrupt direct Russian-Ukrainian negotiations,” a spokesperson said, referring to backchannel talks reportedly facilitated by intermediaries from Turkey and Hungary.

Despite the intensifying violence, Trump maintains that diplomacy remains possible. Axios reported last week that the US president held a private call with Putin, after which he assured several European leaders that Russia is still interested in a negotiated settlement. “Putin wants a deal,” Trump reportedly told allies, indicating his belief that continued engagement could eventually lead to a ceasefire or broader peace agreement.

This stance has attracted criticism from hawkish elements in both the Democratic and Republican parties, who view Trump’s engagement with Moscow as dangerously naive or even potentially compromising. However, Trump’s allies argue that peace talks are the only viable path forward, especially given Ukraine’s struggling battlefield performance and a dwindling supply of Western weaponry.

Trump’s handling of the Ukraine war-particularly his frequent criticism of Zelensky and cautious stance toward Putin-could become a defining issue in the 2024 presidential election. While many Americans remain broadly supportive of Ukraine, polls have shown declining enthusiasm for an open-ended commitment, especially among Republican voters.

Zelensky, for his part, appears to be taking an increasingly confrontational tone with Washington. As US political support becomes more volatile, especially with Trump potentially returning to office, Ukraine may find itself navigating an increasingly complex and unpredictable geopolitical environment.

The public spat between Trump and Zelensky marks a turning point in the narrative of the Ukraine conflict. What began as a straightforward condemnation of Russian aggression has morphed into a web of diverging strategies, mutual recriminations, and high-stakes political calculations. Trump may be posturing as a peace broker, but his harsh words for Zelensky signal a growing impatience with a war he insists was both unnecessary and mishandled.

Whether diplomacy will prevail or further fractures will emerge remains to be seen-but one thing is clear: the alliance between Washington and Kyiv is facing its most serious test yet.

Please follow Blitz on Google News Channel

The post Trump criticizes Zelensky, blames him for worsening Ukraine conflict appeared first on BLiTZ.

[Read More]

—–
Source: Weekly Blitz :: Writings