Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of attempting to manipulate U.S. President Donald Trump, following Putin's praise of Trump as "smart" and his stated willingness to discuss the Ukraine conflict.
"He wants to manipulate the U.S. president's desire for peace," Zelensky said in his nightly address on January 24. "I believe this attempt at manipulation will not succeed."
Zelensky added that Putin appears willing to prolong Russia's campaign in Ukraine while seeking to "manipulate global leaders."
The comments came after Putin praised Trump earlier in the day, suggesting that the Ukraine conflict might not have occurred if Trump had won the 2020 U.S. presidential election. Putin also expressed readiness to engage in dialogue with Trump over Ukraine but did not provide a timeline.
The Kremlin indicated on January 24 that Moscow was awaiting "signals" from Washington, even as Trump has publicly stated his desire to meet with Putin "immediately."
Ukraine Rejects U.S.-Russia Talks Without Kiev
Andriy Yermak, Zelensky’s chief of staff, dismissed the notion of negotiations between Moscow and Washington over Ukraine without Kiev's involvement.
"That will not happen. Putin needs to return to reality. This is not how the modern world operates," Yermak said.
Neither Trump nor Putin has responded to the Ukrainian officials' remarks.
Escalating Conflict
The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has strained U.S.-Russia relations to their lowest point since the Cold War. On January 23, Trump called the war "ridiculous" and warned of harsher sanctions on Moscow if Putin refuses to end the military campaign.
Trump has also urged Saudi Arabia and OPEC countries to lower oil prices, suggesting that this move could "immediately end the conflict." Western nations have sought to restrict Russian oil revenues, citing them as a major source of funding for Moscow’s military operations in Ukraine.
Putin rejected Trump’s position on January 26, expressing confidence that Trump would avoid decisions that could harm the U.S. economy.
Intensifying Hostilities
The remarks come as the Ukraine war continues to escalate. Ukrainian officials reported on January 24 that Russian drone strikes near Kiev had killed three people and injured several others.
The Russian Ministry of Defense claimed to have intercepted 121 Ukrainian drones across 13 regions in what it described as one of the largest air attacks by Ukraine since the conflict began. Ukrainian forces said they had successfully struck energy facilities and electronics manufacturing plants inside Russian territory.
(Sources: AFP, AP)
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