ISLAMABAD: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky responded sharply on Wednesday to comments made by former US President Donald Trump, accusing him of being misled by Russian disinformation. Trump had claimed Zelensky’s approval rating was at 4%, which the Ukrainian leader dismissed as propaganda originating from Moscow.
Zelensky, addressing reporters in Kyiv, said, “Unfortunately, President Trump, for whom we have great respect… lives in this disinformation space.” He emphasized that the approval ratings Trump referenced were false, pointing to a recent poll by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology which showed that 57% of Ukrainians trust Zelensky, with only 37% disapproving.
The Ukrainian president also criticized recent US-Russia talks, alleging that the US was aiding Russian President Vladimir Putin’s efforts to end his international isolation. “I believe that the United States helped Putin break out of years of isolation,” Zelensky said, warning that such actions had a negative impact on Ukraine.
Despite tensions, Zelensky reiterated his request for security guarantees from Western allies, hoping they could pave the way for a ceasefire by 2025 and ultimately bring an end to the war. “We want security guarantees this year, because we want to end the war this year,” he stated.
