Trump and Zelensky appear at loggerheads despite new optimism
The hug that Trump envoy Steve Witkoff offered Volodymyr Zelensky before talks in Oslo is unlikely to have dispelled the Ukrainian leader's misgivings about the current direction of US policy towards his war-ravaged country.
Despite new optimism, tensions between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky appear to have reached a new low. The hugging of Zelensky by Trump envoy Steve Witkoff prior to talks in Oslo did little to soothe the Ukrainian leader's concerns about the current direction of US policy towards his war-torn nation.
Zelensky posted a video expressing gratitude for support, but questions linger about whether he still views Trump as a partner. The relationship has been fraught with conflict, with both leaders engaging in verbal sparring, with Trump accusing Zelensky of not being a good negotiator and Zelensky accusing Trump of working towards World War III.
The recent developments have further strained the relationship, with Trump seemingly taking a pro-Kremlin stance by striking a deal on Russian diesel and waiving sanctions on Russia just before they were set to take effect. This has been seen as a rebuke to Zelensky's efforts to fight Russian aggression, particularly in destroying Russian oil refineries.
The White House has denied any restrictions on Ukraine's access to US intelligence and satellite internet services, but Zelensky has claimed otherwise, pointing to instances where they allegedly did not receive advance warnings before Russian missile strikes. The situation remains uncertain and fraught with uncertainty, with the relationship between Trump and Zelensky feeling more like an adversarial standoff than a partnership.
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