Zelensky Responds to "Trump's Criticism" in a Question-Raising Style

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky sought on Sunday to appease his US counterpart Donald Trump, following criticism leveled by the latter against Kyiv amidst pivotal talks in Geneva aimed at ending the war with Russia.

1. The Criticism and Zelensky's Reply

• Trump's Criticism: Trump, known for his volatile stance on Ukraine, had previously criticized the Ukrainian leadership on his Truth Social platform, saying they "have not expressed any gratitude for our efforts," referencing his plan to end the nearly four-year-long conflict which included some of Moscow's demands.

• Zelensky's Response: Hours later, Zelensky replied in a post on X, stating: "Ukraine is grateful to the United States, to every American heart, and to President Trump personally for the assistance that saved Ukrainian lives."

2. Geneva Talks and the US Plan Draft

• Diplomatic Efforts: US and Ukrainian envoys are working in Geneva to modify a 28-point plan proposed by Washington.

• New Draft: Rustem Umerov, Head of the Ukrainian Security Council and Kyiv's negotiator, spoke of a "new draft," confirming that "the current version of the document, although still in the final approval stages, already reflects most of Ukraine’s basic priorities."

• Initial Formula: The initial US plan was controversial in Kyiv as it required Ukraine to concede Russian-occupied territories, reduce its military size, and pledge never to join NATO. In return, it stipulated security guarantees and the use of frozen Russian assets for reconstruction.

3. Trump's Volatile Stance on Ukraine

Since the start of his second presidential term, Trump's stance on Ukraine has fluctuated significantly:

• He vowed to end the war in "24 hours" and claimed it would not have happened had he been president.

• He described Zelensky as a "dictator" and publicly criticized him alongside his running mate, JD Vance, during a White House visit earlier this year.

• However, Trump later expressed dissatisfaction with the Russian President for not agreeing to his peace proposals, imposed significant sanctions on Moscow, and hinted at the possibility of Ukraine regaining its territories.