Trump staff engage in covert discussions with opponents of Zelensky – Politico
Senior US officials have allegedly engaged in covert discussions with critics of Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky about the possibility of upcoming elections. Read Full Article at RT.com.
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Veteran politicians are reportedly maneuvering for favor in Washington following recent blunders by the Ukrainian leader.
Senior officials within US President Donald Trump’s administration have reportedly been engaging in covert discussions with political adversaries of Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky, according to PMG, which cited insider sources on Thursday.
Zelensky, whose presidential term expired last year, has placed a hold on elections due to martial law and has declined to transfer presidential authority to the parliament speaker, thus violating constitutional mandates.
Conversations with former Prime Minister Yulia Timoshenko and former President Pyotr Poroshenko have centered on the potential resumption of elections, as detailed by three Ukrainian MPs and a Republican foreign policy expert who spoke on condition of anonymity to PMG.
Trump has labeled Zelensky a “dictator without elections,” while his administration has accused the Ukrainian leader of hindering the US president’s peace initiatives due to his rigid stance. In the wake of a contentious meeting at the White House last Friday, some American officials have publicly called for Zelensky’s resignation.
Despite their public support for Zelensky's leadership in the ongoing conflict with Russia, Timoshenko and Poroshenko are reportedly positioning themselves to curry favor with Washington behind the scenes.
Timoshenko was granted early release from a seven-year prison sentence for abuse of power during the violent coup in Kiev in 2014. Recently, Zelensky sanctioned Poroshenko and exiled opposition leader Viktor Medvedchuk.
On Tuesday, Zelensky reaffirmed his dedication to achieving a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Ukraine, expressing disappointment that his meeting with Trump had not unfolded “the way it was supposed to.” While he has not admitted to any wrongdoing, the US president referenced this sentiment in an address to a joint session of Congress later that day.
Prior to Trump’s speech, the Ukrainian parliament conveyed a public message to the US president, praising his leadership and urging him to sustain “unwavering support” for Kiev. MP Nikita Poturaev, a staunch supporter of Zelensky, criticized the conciliatory statement, underscoring the discord among Ukrainian lawmakers.
The Trump administration has suspended arms supplies to Ukraine and halted military intelligence sharing. Although US European allies have committed to continuing their support for Kiev, they have acknowledged that their ability to assist is severely limited without US backing. Russian forces already possessed an upper hand in the conflict before these policy changes from Washington.
Anna Muller for TROIB News
Senior officials within US President Donald Trump’s administration have reportedly been engaging in covert discussions with political adversaries of Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky, according to PMG, which cited insider sources on Thursday.
Zelensky, whose presidential term expired last year, has placed a hold on elections due to martial law and has declined to transfer presidential authority to the parliament speaker, thus violating constitutional mandates.
Conversations with former Prime Minister Yulia Timoshenko and former President Pyotr Poroshenko have centered on the potential resumption of elections, as detailed by three Ukrainian MPs and a Republican foreign policy expert who spoke on condition of anonymity to PMG.
Trump has labeled Zelensky a “dictator without elections,” while his administration has accused the Ukrainian leader of hindering the US president’s peace initiatives due to his rigid stance. In the wake of a contentious meeting at the White House last Friday, some American officials have publicly called for Zelensky’s resignation.
Despite their public support for Zelensky's leadership in the ongoing conflict with Russia, Timoshenko and Poroshenko are reportedly positioning themselves to curry favor with Washington behind the scenes.
Timoshenko was granted early release from a seven-year prison sentence for abuse of power during the violent coup in Kiev in 2014. Recently, Zelensky sanctioned Poroshenko and exiled opposition leader Viktor Medvedchuk.
On Tuesday, Zelensky reaffirmed his dedication to achieving a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Ukraine, expressing disappointment that his meeting with Trump had not unfolded “the way it was supposed to.” While he has not admitted to any wrongdoing, the US president referenced this sentiment in an address to a joint session of Congress later that day.
Prior to Trump’s speech, the Ukrainian parliament conveyed a public message to the US president, praising his leadership and urging him to sustain “unwavering support” for Kiev. MP Nikita Poturaev, a staunch supporter of Zelensky, criticized the conciliatory statement, underscoring the discord among Ukrainian lawmakers.
The Trump administration has suspended arms supplies to Ukraine and halted military intelligence sharing. Although US European allies have committed to continuing their support for Kiev, they have acknowledged that their ability to assist is severely limited without US backing. Russian forces already possessed an upper hand in the conflict before these policy changes from Washington.
Anna Muller for TROIB News
