In brief
Trump criticized Zelensky's leadership amidst escalating tensions related to the conflict, which has seen a significant rise in civilian casualties following a recent missile attack in Sumy.
During a meeting with El Salvador's leader at the White House, Donald Trump claimed that Volodymyr Zelensky, along with Russian President Vladimir Putin and President Joe Biden, shares responsibility for the war deaths in Ukraine. Trump's remarks followed a devastating Russian missile strike on the city of Sumy, which resulted in the loss of at least 35 lives. He stated, "Millions of people dead because of three people," highlighting what he perceives as incompetence on the part of Zelensky and Biden. While experts estimate that the total number of casualties is in the hundreds of thousands rather than millions, Trump expressed serious doubts about Zelensky's strategic decisions, questioning his push for missile purchases against a much larger adversary. This statement comes amid a backdrop of heightened tensions between Trump and Zelensky, especially after an earlier confrontation at the White House. In response, Zelensky had encouraged Trump to visit Ukraine to better understand the civilian cost of the war before making any decisions regarding negotiations with Russia. As the situation evolves, Trump indicated that he would be putting forward proposals to help end the violence, although specifics were not provided.
