KYIV, Ukraine — President Donald Trump’s envoy to Ukraine and Russia stated on Friday that he had held “intensive and optimistic discussions” with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy concerning the three-year struggle with Russia and praised the Ukrainian chief as an “embattled and brave chief of a nation at struggle.”
Retired U.S. Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg — who traveled to Kyiv on Wednesday and whose deliberate information convention with Zelenskyy on Thursday was modified on the final minute to a easy photograph alternative — struck a optimistic tone after what he stated on the social platform X was “an extended and intense day” of talks with Ukraine’s senior management.
His feedback marked a departure from current rebukes of Zelenskyy by Trump and different senior U.S. officers that appeared to point an abrupt deterioration of relations. Trump known as Zelenskyy “a dictator with out elections” and warned him that he’d “ higher transfer quick ” to barter an finish to the struggle or threat not having a nation to steer.
The likelihood that important U.S. navy help for Ukraine was unsure darkened the temper in Kyiv as Ukrainian forces battle to carry again Russia’s larger military on the battlefield.
European governments, uneasy about being sidelined up to now in talks between senior U.S. and Russian officers, have jumped to shore up Zelenskyy and on the identical time keep away from a breakdown in transatlantic relations.
Polish President Andrzej Duda, whose nation has been a vocal supporter of neighboring Ukraine, stated Zelenskyy phoned him on Friday. Duda stated he instructed Zelenskyy “to stay dedicated to the course of calm and constructive cooperation” with Trump.
“We persistently consider there isn’t a different solution to cease the bloodshed and obtain lasting peace in Ukraine besides with the help of america,” Duda stated he additionally instructed Zelenskyy.
“I belief that goodwill and honesty type the muse of the U.S. negotiation technique,” Duda stated on X. “I’ve little doubt that President Trump is guided by a deep sense of accountability for international stability and peace.”
The European Union’s high protection official stated Friday that the bloc plans to ship a robust message of help to Ukraine subsequent week with a brand new help bundle to mark Monday’s third anniversary of the struggle.
EU Protection Commissioner Andrius Kubilius stated senior members of the bloc’s government department are weighing how, “in a really pressing means, to ship a really robust message to Ukrainians and to the world that we’re standing along with Ukraine.”
European coverage commissioners, Fee President Ursula von der Leyen and different high EU officers are touring to Kyiv on Monday.
Russia has pressed on with its invasion at the same time as talks with the U.S. happen, putting civilian targets nearly day by day.
On Friday, Russian forces dropped three highly effective glide bombs on Kostiantynivka, in Ukraine’s japanese Donetsk area, killing one man and injuring two others, regional Gov. Vadym Filashkin stated.
One other Russian glide bomb broken properties and injured 5 individuals within the northeastern Kharkiv area, Ukraine’s Inside Ministry stated.
The general public quarrel between Trump and Zelenskyy started after Russia and the U.S. agreed Tuesday to start out working towards ending the struggle in Ukraine and bettering their diplomatic and financial ties. With that, and a cellphone name with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trump abruptly reversed the three-year U.S. coverage of isolating Russia.
Trump’s nationwide safety adviser, Mike Waltz, stated throughout a White Home briefing on Thursday that the U.S. president is “clearly very pissed off” with Zelenskyy.
Zelenskyy was sad {that a} U.S. workforce opened the talks with out inviting him or European governments which have backed Kyiv.
When Trump claimed with out proof Zelenskyy was deeply unpopular in Ukraine and falsely steered that Ukraine was responsible for the struggle, Zelenskyy stated Trump was dwelling in a Russian-made “disinformation house,” suggesting he had been duped by Putin.
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