 "US President Trump has sharply criticised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and said that it was time that Ukraine held elections -- an apparent bid to begin the process of pushing Zelenskyy aside. File image/Reuters")
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that will meet US Special Envoy to Russia and Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, in Kyiv on Thursday.
US Special Envoy Keith Kellogg is in Kyiv after recent US-Russia talks in Saudi Arabia.
“We are scheduled to meet with General Kellogg tomorrow, and it is very important for us that the meeting and our work with America, in general, be constructive,” Zelenskyy said in his daily evening address on Wednesday.
Zelenskyy said he hopes for “constructive” cooperation with the US and believes that, together with America and Europe, peace can be more secure, which remains their goal.
Earlier, senior officials from the United States and Russia met in Riyadh to discuss potential pathways to end the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Ukraine and Europe were both absent from these discussions, raising concerns about decisions being made without Kyiv’s direct involvement.
Dictator without elections: Trump
This visit comes amid US President Donald Trump’s recent remarks on Zelenskyy. Trump referred to Zelenskyy as a “dictator without elections” in a post on Truth Social.
Trump also accused Ukraine of starting the war with Russia.
Zelenskyy countered Trump’s accusation and accused him of repeating Russian disinformation.
Trump lives in disinformation space: Zelenskyy
“Unfortunately, President Trump – I have great respect for him as a leader of a nation that we have great respect for, the American people who always support us – unfortunately lives in this disinformation space,” Zelenskyy said.
European leaders, including Keir Starmer and Olaf Scholz, have expressed solidarity with Zelenskyy and condemned Trump’s remarks.
EU’s new sanctions on Moscow
Meanwhile, The European Union has announced new sanctions targeting Russian aluminum imports and vessels circumventing the oil price cap. These sanctions aim to increase economic pressure on Moscow.