Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky delivered a sharp rebuke to Donald Trump on Wednesday, accusing the former U.S. President of being trapped in a "Russian disinformation bubble" and dismissing claims about his declining approval ratings as false. The Ukrainian leader rejected Trump’s assertion that his popularity had plummeted and insisted that any attempts to replace him amid the ongoing war with Russia would fail. He made it clear that Ukraine remained strong in the face of aggression and that its leadership would not be dictated by external narratives, particularly those influenced by Russian propaganda.
The exchange of words followed a high-profile diplomatic meeting between senior officials from the United States and Russia in Riyadh on Tuesday, where discussions were reportedly centered on strategies to bring an end to the war in Ukraine. The meeting, which was the first of its kind since the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, drew immediate criticism from Zelensky, who viewed it as an exclusionary process that sidelined Ukraine from critical negotiations about its own future.
During the meeting, Trump had reportedly claimed that Zelensky’s approval rating had nosedived to a mere four percent, a figure that starkly contrasted with independent polling data that put the Ukrainian leader’s popularity at around 57 percent. Zelensky swiftly dismissed the claim as baseless, arguing that Trump had fallen prey to Russian misinformation campaigns designed to undermine Ukraine’s leadership and weaken global support for Kyiv.
“If someone wants to replace me right now, it won’t work. The statements about my approval rating at four percent are Russian disinformation. Trump is trapped in this disinformation bubble,” Zelensky said during an interview on Ukrainian television. He expressed disappointment in Trump’s understanding of the reality in Ukraine, adding, “I would like Trump’s team to have more truth about Ukraine.” Zelensky further emphasized that the Ukrainian military remained steadfast and that the vast majority of Ukrainians were unwilling to make concessions to Russia, despite the immense pressures of war.
His remarks came amid growing tensions surrounding the U.S.-Russia meeting in Riyadh, which Zelensky decried as an effort that undermined Ukraine’s sovereignty by engaging in negotiations without Kyiv’s direct involvement. He expressed strong opposition to the discussions, arguing that the U.S. had, intentionally or unintentionally, facilitated Russian President Vladimir Putin’s attempts to break out of his international isolation. The Ukrainian leader was particularly critical of the fact that the meeting had taken place without his government’s input, calling it a "diplomatic mistake" that risked legitimizing Russian demands without considering Ukraine’s position.
The meeting between U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov marked a significant shift in diplomatic efforts regarding the Ukraine conflict. As part of the discussions, both nations reportedly agreed on the importance of improving bilateral relations, which have reached historic lows since Russia’s invasion. However, one of the most contentious outcomes was Russia’s firm stance against NATO forces operating in Ukraine and its continued opposition to Ukraine’s bid for NATO membership—both issues that have long been central to President Zelensky’s vision for Ukraine’s security.
Reacting to the meeting’s outcome, Zelensky reiterated his firm stance that no decision about Ukraine’s future could be made without its direct participation. In a move underscoring his discontent, he postponed a planned visit to Saudi Arabia, stating that he would not provide legitimacy to a diplomatic process that excluded Ukraine.
"We want no one to decide anything behind our backs... No decision can be made without Ukraine on how to end the war in Ukraine," Zelensky asserted. Expressing frustration at what he saw as a backroom deal, he added, "We were not invited to this meeting, it was a surprise for us." He also called for broader participation in future negotiations, emphasizing that European nations and Turkey must play a central role in any talks concerning Ukraine’s future.
Trump, however, did not back down from his criticisms of Zelensky. Instead, he escalated his rhetoric, blaming the Ukrainian President for prolonging the war and accusing him of being an ineffective leader. In a scathing attack, Trump labeled Zelensky as "grossly incompetent" and claimed that the Ukrainian leader was a poor negotiator who had missed opportunities to strike a peace deal with Russia nearly three years ago. According to Trump, Zelensky should have agreed to a settlement to prevent the full-scale invasion and spare Ukraine the devastation it has suffered since.
Trump’s comments added further strain to his already tense relationship with Ukraine, as the former U.S. President has long expressed skepticism about Washington’s continued military and financial support for Kyiv. He has repeatedly questioned whether the U.S. should remain as deeply involved in the conflict, suggesting that Ukraine should be more open to negotiating with Russia—an idea that goes against the stance of both Zelensky and the broader international coalition supporting Ukraine’s resistance.
Meanwhile, despite the diplomatic friction, both Washington and Moscow have moved forward with appointing special teams to explore potential pathways to end the war, which has its origins in Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and escalated dramatically in 2022 with the full-scale invasion. The war, now well into its third year, has resulted in massive destruction, significant casualties, and an ongoing humanitarian crisis that has displaced millions of Ukrainians.
For Zelensky, the stakes remain extraordinarily high, as he continues to push for international support while fending off political and military pressure from both Russia and skeptical voices in the West. He remains adamant that any resolution to the war must involve Ukraine at the negotiating table and that no external power can unilaterally decide its fate. As global powers navigate the complex dynamics of the war, Zelensky’s rejection of the Riyadh meeting signals that Ukraine will not accept any peace settlement that does not align with its own interests and long-term security goals.
