Trump Criticizes Biden and Zelensky Again on Social Media
Claims Ukrainian Leadership Is “Not Grateful” to the US
Pressures Ukraine to Accept a Peace Proposal Like in February
[Financial News] Since taking office this year, US President Donald Trump has been erratically mediating an end to the war between Ukraine and Russia, and he has once again criticized the Ukrainian government and former US President Joe Biden. This move is seen as an attempt to pressure Ukraine into accepting a peace proposal.
On the 23rd (local time), Trump took to the social media platform Truth Social to criticize his predecessor Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. He claimed, “The war between Russia and Ukraine is violent and horrible and would never have happened if there had been strong and proper leadership in the US and Ukraine.” Trump reiterated that he inherited a war that “should never have happened” and emphasized that the war between the two countries would not have occurred if the 2020 US election hadn’t been rigged.
Before taking office this year, Trump claimed that if he had won the 2020 election, Russian President Vladimir Putin would not have attacked Ukraine. Promising to end the Ukraine war since last year’s election, Trump has pursued a quick end to the conflict by pressuring Ukraine from a pro-Russia stance. Last year, he even escorted Zelensky out of the White House in February. Initially adopting a pro-Ukraine stance from April after both sides continued their conflict, Trump became closer to Ukraine after personally meeting Putin in August. However, when Putin did not cease hostilities after their meeting, Trump suggested last month that he might provide Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles that could target the Russian capital.
However, after a phone call with Putin on the 16th of last month, Trump reversed his stance and pressured Ukraine. He drafted a ceasefire proposal with Russia and officially delivered it to Ukraine on the 20th. The proposal contained several unfavorable terms for Ukraine, including the relinquishment of eastern territories, disarmament, and abandonment of NATO membership. In a 21st interview, Trump demanded Ukraine accept his terms by the 27th.
In his post on Truth Social on the 23rd, he stressed that “Ukraine’s leadership has not expressed any gratitude for our efforts, and Europe continues to buy oil from Russia.” However, Zelensky has publicly expressed gratitude to the US multiple times, especially after clashing with Trump in February.
On the 23rd, Zelensky also posted on social media platform X, saying, “Ukraine is thankful for the US support that started with Javelin missiles and has saved Ukrainian lives, and I personally thank President Trump.” He expressed gratitude again by adding, “Thank you to Europe, the G7, the G20 for helping protect our lives. Thank you to America. Thank you to Europe.”
Previously, on the 22nd, when asked by reporters at the White House what would happen if Zelensky did not accept the ceasefire proposal, Trump said, “Then he can continue the war as he pleases.”