US Urges Ukraine To Ease Criticism Amid Diplomatic Tensions.
The White House National Security Adviser, Mike Waltz, has urged Ukraine to “tone down” its criticism of the United States and agree to a minerals deal being promoted by President Donald Trump. The diplomatic tensions come as Washington continues to play a key role in supporting Kyiv amid its ongoing conflict with Russia.
A scheduled news conference in Kyiv featuring Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US envoy Keith Kellogg was unexpectedly cancelled, with both leaders currently engaged in private discussions. The cancellation follows a series of sharp exchanges between Trump and Zelensky, highlighting growing friction between the two allies.
Yesterday, Trump referred to Zelensky as a “dictator” and claimed that Russia holds “the cards” in peace negotiations due to its territorial gains in Ukraine. In response, Zelensky accused the US president of “living in a disinformation space” influenced by Russian narratives.
Analysts, including BBC’s Anthony Zurcher, have pointed out that Trump’s recent remarks appear to echo Russia’s stance on the war and the Ukrainian leadership. These comments come just a week after Trump’s lengthy phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Meanwhile, the Kremlin has reiterated its position that any deployment of NATO troops in Ukraine would be “unacceptable.” This follows remarks by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who stated that Britain was “ready” to send troops as part of a potential peace agreement.
As diplomatic discussions continue, the evolving dynamics between the US, Ukraine, and NATO remain under close scrutiny. Our correspondents will be addressing questions on the Ukraine crisis tomorrow and welcome inquiries from the public.
