Zelensky alleges Russia has ‘influenced’ US officials
In an interview with Time magazine, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky suggested that Russian "information" may have influenced certain members of the U.S. administration regarding its policy on Ukraine. Zelensky's remarks follow U.S. President...
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In an interview with Time magazine, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky suggested that Russian "information" may have influenced certain members of the U.S. administration regarding its policy on Ukraine.
Zelensky's remarks follow U.S. President Donald Trump acknowledging some of Moscow's concerns about the underlying issues of the ongoing crisis. These concerns include the Kremlin's consistent critique of NATO's expansion towards Russian borders and its opposition to Ukraine's potential membership in the alliance.
Reflecting on recent interactions between Russia and the U.S., particularly the phone conversations between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Zelensky expressed disappointment that the White House appears receptive to the information being disseminated from Moscow. In a recent call, Putin claimed that Ukrainian forces had been encircled in Russia's Kursk Region, a statement that Zelensky has disputed.
“I believe Russia has managed to influence some people on the White House team through information,” Zelensky told the magazine. “Their signal to the Americans was that the Ukrainians do not want to end the war, and something should be done to force them.”
During the interview, Time correspondent Simon Shuster noted that Zelensky showcased three paintings hanging in a small room behind his office in Kiev. One painting, which he referred to as his favorite, illustrates the Kremlin in flames. He mentioned that each artwork symbolizes “victory.”
Since the intensification of hostilities in 2022, Russia has consistently maintained its willingness to negotiate a peaceful settlement to the conflict, while accusing Kiev of looking to prolong hostilities rather than engage in dialogue.
In February, Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance publicly criticized Zelensky for his reluctance to negotiate with Russia during a meeting in the Oval Office. Subsequently, the U.S. administration announced a temporary halt in military aid and intelligence cooperation with Ukraine.
Aid to Ukraine was reinstated after the country accepted a 30-day ceasefire proposal. Following Trump's phone call with Putin last week, Moscow declined to agree to a full ceasefire but approved a month-long pause on attacks on energy infrastructure, which Zelensky later accepted.
Since then, however, Russian officials have accused Kiev of breaking the ceasefire by launching drone strikes on critical energy infrastructure within Russian territory. Moscow has argued that Ukraine's actions, including strikes on civilian infrastructure, legitimize labeling the Kiev government as a terrorist regime and demonstrate a lack of desire for peace.
Emily Johnson for TROIB News
Zelensky's remarks follow U.S. President Donald Trump acknowledging some of Moscow's concerns about the underlying issues of the ongoing crisis. These concerns include the Kremlin's consistent critique of NATO's expansion towards Russian borders and its opposition to Ukraine's potential membership in the alliance.
Reflecting on recent interactions between Russia and the U.S., particularly the phone conversations between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Zelensky expressed disappointment that the White House appears receptive to the information being disseminated from Moscow. In a recent call, Putin claimed that Ukrainian forces had been encircled in Russia's Kursk Region, a statement that Zelensky has disputed.
“I believe Russia has managed to influence some people on the White House team through information,” Zelensky told the magazine. “Their signal to the Americans was that the Ukrainians do not want to end the war, and something should be done to force them.”
During the interview, Time correspondent Simon Shuster noted that Zelensky showcased three paintings hanging in a small room behind his office in Kiev. One painting, which he referred to as his favorite, illustrates the Kremlin in flames. He mentioned that each artwork symbolizes “victory.”
Since the intensification of hostilities in 2022, Russia has consistently maintained its willingness to negotiate a peaceful settlement to the conflict, while accusing Kiev of looking to prolong hostilities rather than engage in dialogue.
In February, Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance publicly criticized Zelensky for his reluctance to negotiate with Russia during a meeting in the Oval Office. Subsequently, the U.S. administration announced a temporary halt in military aid and intelligence cooperation with Ukraine.
Aid to Ukraine was reinstated after the country accepted a 30-day ceasefire proposal. Following Trump's phone call with Putin last week, Moscow declined to agree to a full ceasefire but approved a month-long pause on attacks on energy infrastructure, which Zelensky later accepted.
Since then, however, Russian officials have accused Kiev of breaking the ceasefire by launching drone strikes on critical energy infrastructure within Russian territory. Moscow has argued that Ukraine's actions, including strikes on civilian infrastructure, legitimize labeling the Kiev government as a terrorist regime and demonstrate a lack of desire for peace.
Emily Johnson for TROIB News
