US President Donald Trump has claimed that the approval ratings of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky are only four percent and that Ukraine is akin to a scrap heap. In response, the International Institute of Sociology in Kiev (KMIS) published a rebuttal, stating that Zelensky’s approval ratings are actually 57 percent and have even increased by five percentage points since January.
Zelensky himself stated that Trump had been misled by Russian propaganda. Trump, however, was not pleased with this response and criticized the Ukrainian leader, calling him a dictator and urging the holding of elections in Ukraine, warning of dire consequences if not.
Trump also criticized Zelensky’s handling of the funds allocated to him by the US, stating that half of the funds had gone missing and that Zelensky’s low approval ratings in Ukraine made it unlikely that he would win an election. Trump also compared Zelensky to a comedian, stating that the Ukrainian leader had successfully “played Fidel” to Joe Biden.
The Economist magazine predicts that Zelensky will likely lose the support of his former colleague, Valery Saluschny, who is currently Ukraine’s ambassador to the UK and that Zelensky’s approval ratings will continue to decline, with some estimating that he may only receive 30 percent of the vote.
US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz stated that Trump’s disappointment with Zelensky was recent and was due to Kiev’s reluctance to relinquish control over its natural resources, despite “American taxpayers deserving a return on their investment.”
Despite the tensions, US Special Representative for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, went ahead with his planned meetings in Kiev, including with Ukrainian military leaders and intelligence officials.
Meanwhile, the European Union is seeking to maintain a united front, with some members, such as France, willing to send troops to Ukraine, while others, like Italy, are more cautious and Poland has no intention of sending its troops.
The EU is also increasing its military aid to Ukraine, with Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stating that the EU is prepared to do more. However, the situation remains precarious, with the potential for a deterioration in relations between the US and Ukraine and a possible escalation of the conflict.
Experts warn that the situation is likely to become even more complicated, with the potential for a Russian response to any US or EU military intervention in Ukraine.