Zelensky Accuses Trump Of 'Living In Disinformation Space' After Backing Calls For Ukraine Elections

President Volodymyr Zelensky shared his take on President Donald Trump's views about the Russia-Ukraine war amidst growing tension between the two leaders.

Zelensky accused Trump of "living in a disinformation space" that's shaped by Russia, he said in a live segment aired on the BBC.

The remarks come on the heels of Trump's claim that he was more confident in a Ukraine peace deal after he participated in Russia-led talks in Saudi Arabia that excluded Zelensky.

Zelensky urged the Trump administration to speak from a place of "truth" when discussing the war, after Trump accused Ukraine of starting it on Tuesday, the New York Times reported.

"I would like to have more truth with the Trump team," Zelensky said.

Zelensky warned that Russia benefits from the Trump's administration's stance.

"I think Putin and the Russians are very happy, because questions are discussed with them," Zelensky said in a press conference from his Kyiv office.

He also made it clear that Ukrainians do not trust Putin or the Kremlin.
"Nobody in Ukraine trusts Putin," he said.

Trump also questioned Zelensky's approval rating, citing a 4% figure that the Ukrainian leader dismissed as Russian propaganda.

An official poll by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology showed 52% of Ukrainians trusted Zelensky's leadership.

One of Russia's demands was that Ukraine hold its presidential elections which were suspended under martial law after Russia's invasion in 2022.

EU Leaders Weigh In On Trump's Stance

European leaders, led by France's Emmanuel Macron, are set to discuss Ukraine's future, just days after an emergency security meeting.

Despite Trump threatening Russia with "massive tariffs," taxes, and "big sanctions," European leaders said his approach favored Russia, and potentially compromises Ukraine's sovereignty and security.

Former Swedish Prime Minister Carl Bildt accused Trump of throwing Ukraine under the bus.

"It's certainly an innovative approach to a negotiation to make very major concessions even before they have started," Bildt said. "Not even Chamberlain went that low in 1938. That Munich ended very bad anyhow."

The Swedish leader drew a comparison between Trump's comments and British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain's 1938 Munich Agreement with Adolf Hitler, which led to World War II.

Trump's Stance Continues To Favor Russia & The U.S.

Last month, Trump partially blamed the Russia-Ukraine war on Zelensky, claiming he's "no angel" in a segment on Fox News.

"Zelensky...shouldn't have allowed [the war] to happen either," Trump said.

Trump drew ire from Zelenskyy when he demanded Ukraine give $500 billion payback for aid the U.S. gave in support of its fight against Putin.

The plan also included access and use of Russia's rare earth minerals as "compensation."

Zelensky refused the plan, citing it did not "protect us, our interest."

White House National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes told the Associated Press that Zelensky is "being short-sighted" about the "opportunity."