Synopsis
On February 21, National Security Advisor Mike Waltz revealed the deepening frustration of President Trump towards Ukrainian President Zelensky. This statement highlights the escalating tensions between the Trump administration and Ukraine amidst the ongoing conflict with Russia.Key Takeaways
- Trump's frustration with Zelensky is substantial.
- Criticism from Ukraine towards Trump has been deemed unacceptable.
- Efforts to end the conflict in Ukraine are a priority for Trump.
- Zelensky acknowledges US support amid the war with Russia.
- Waltz emphasizes the need for European allies to bolster their defense contributions.
Washington, Feb 21 (NationPress) National Security Advisor Mike Waltz stated that US President Donald Trump was "very, very frustrated" with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, emphasizing the increasing divide between the Trump administration and Kyiv.
During a Thursday briefing, Waltz refrained from commenting on whether Trump thinks Russian President Vladimir Putin or Ukrainian President Zelensky is more to blame for the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, as reported by CNN.
Waltz explained, "(Trump's) goal here is to bring this war to an end, period, and there has been ongoing fighting on both sides — it is World War I-style, trench warfare."
He added, "His frustration with President Zelensky is multi-fold. There needs to be a deep appreciation for what the American people, what the American taxpayer, what President Trump did in his first term, and what we have done since. Some of the rhetoric coming out of Kyiv, frankly, and insults to President Trump, were unacceptable."
On Truth Social, Trump labeled Zelensky a "dictator without elections," which led the Ukrainian President to respond that Trump "lives in this disinformation space" and is "(helping) Putin out of his isolation."
Waltz further remarked, "Look, President Trump is obviously very frustrated right now with President Zelensky — the fact that he hasn't come to the table, that he hasn't been willing to take this opportunity that we have offered, I think he eventually will get to that point, and I hope so very quickly."
He continued, "But President Trump is, as we made clear to our Russian counterparts, and I want to make clear today — he's focused on stopping the fighting and moving forward, and we could argue all day long about what's happened in the past."
Waltz emphasized Trump's capability in dealing with global leaders, stating, "If there's anybody in this world that can go toe to toe with Putin, that could go toe to toe with Xi, that could go toe to toe with Kim Jong Un and you could keep going down the list, it's Donald J. Trump. He is the deal maker in chief."
Zelensky, on the other hand, expressed gratitude for US support during a meeting with US Special Envoy Keith Kellogg in Kyiv, labeling the discussion as "productive." He noted that the conversation included battlefield updates, efforts to bring Ukrainian prisoners of war home, and discussions regarding effective security guarantees.
Despite recent tensions, Zelensky's comments marked a shift from previous criticism directed at the US following peace talks with Russia that excluded Kyiv. Waltz defended the Trump administration's position, asserting that "some of the rhetoric coming out of Kyiv, frankly, and insults to President Trump were unacceptable." He reiterated the expectation for European allies to contribute more to their own defense.
