{"id":2403973,"date":"2025-02-18T19:47:58","date_gmt":"2025-02-19T00:47:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-knocks-zelensky-over-russian-invasion-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2025-02-18T19:49:28","modified_gmt":"2025-02-19T00:49:28","slug":"trump-knocks-zelensky-over-russian-invasion-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-knocks-zelensky-over-russian-invasion-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Trump knocks Zelensky over Russian invasion &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Ftrump-knocks-zelensky-over-russian-invasion-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2403973&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>In a recent statement, former president Donald Trump criticized ukrainian\u200b President Volodymyr Zelensky over the ongoing war with russia. Trump suggested that Zelensky should have acted earlier \u200bto prevent the conflict and \u2063emphasized\u2063 that the war had \u2064been dragging on for three years without\u200c resolution. During a press conference at his mar-a-Lago estate, Trump commented on \u200cthe exclusion \u200cof Zelensky and other European leaders \u200dfrom recent \u200bU.S.-Russian negotiations in Saudi Arabia aimed at ending the war.<\/p>\n<p>Trump pointed out Zelensky&#8217;s \u2062<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/republican-flips-iowa-state-house-seat-held-by-democrats-for-decades\/\" title=\"Republican Flips Iowa State House Seat Held By Democrats For Decades\">low approval ratings<\/a> and Ukraine&#8217;s \u200dlack of democratic elections amid the ongoing martial law, highlighting that the Ukrainian leader&#8217;s popularity\u200c has substantially\u200c declined from over 90% early in \u2064the conflict to below 50%. He also raised concerns about the accountability \u2064of funds\u2063 sent \u200dto Ukraine, \u2062stating \u2063that Zelensky admitted\u200d to being unaware of the whereabouts\u2063 of a portion of the \u200bfinancial aid.<\/p>\n<p>The discussions in Saudi \u2062Arabia, which \u2064involved U.S.officials meeting with \u2063Russian\u2063 representatives, marked a shift toward <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/israel-kosovo-establish-mutual-diplomatic-ties\/\" title=\"Israel, Kosovo establish mutual diplomatic ties\">establishing diplomatic relations<\/a> between the\u2064 U.S. and Russia, \u200draising \u2064apprehensions about sidelining Ukraine in the peace process. Trump expressed skepticism \u2062about Ukraine&#8217;s prospects of joining NATO, echoing Russian sentiments.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Trump knocks Zelensky over Russian invasion: &lsquo;Should have never started it&rsquo;<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1994561\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>President <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Donald Trump<\/a> criticized <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ukraine\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Ukrainian<\/a> President <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/volodymyr-zelensky\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Volodymyr Zelensky<\/a>&lsquo;s actions during its three-year battle against <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/russia\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Russia<\/a> amid talks with a Russian delegation to end the conflict.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>&ldquo;I think I have the power to end this war, and I think it&rsquo;s going very well. But today I <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/janet-jackson-questions-if-harris-is-black-as-she-heard-shes-indian-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"Janet Jackson questions if Harris is black as she heard \u2018she\u2019s Indian\u2019 - Washington Examiner\">heard &#038;lsquo<\/a>;Oh, well, we weren&rsquo;t invited&rsquo;. Well, you&rsquo;ve been there for three years. You should have ended it three years,&rdquo; Trump said during a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago estate. &ldquo;You should have never started it. You could have made a deal.&rdquo; <\/p>\n<p>The president referenced Zelensky&rsquo;s disapproval of a U.S. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/foreign-policy\/3322198\/us-improve-relationship-russia-negotiations-end-ukraine-war\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">delegation negotiating<\/a> with Russian officials in Saudi Arabia this week to begin winding down the war.<\/p>\n<p>Secretary of State&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/marco-rubio\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Marco Rubio<\/a>, Middle East special envoy Steve Witkoff, and national security adviser Mike Waltz&nbsp;met with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and President Vladimir Putin&rsquo;s <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">foreign policy adviser<\/a>, Yuri Ushakov. <\/p>\n<p>The two groups agreed to start the process of ending the battle and establishing diplomatic ties between the United States and Russia after years of an antagonistic relationship.<\/p>\n<p>Notably, neither Zelensky nor any European leader was included in the discussions, raising concerns that they were being sidelined. Zelensky postponed his trip to Saudi Arabia, which was originally scheduled for Wednesday.<\/p>\n<p>The current battle that Trump is seeking to end began when Putin invaded Ukraine and seized parts of the Donbas region, sparking the U.S. and European allies to pump billions of dollars into saving Ukraine and to slap Russia with sanctions to hurt its economy.<\/p>\n<p>Trump also criticized Zelensky over Ukraine&rsquo;s lack of elections, which Russia is pushing for as part of a peace agreement, and his approval ratings.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We have a situation where we haven&rsquo;t had elections in Ukraine, where we have martial law, essentially martial law in Ukraine, where the leader in Ukraine, I mean, I hate to say it, but he&rsquo;s down at 4% approval rating,&rdquo; Trump said. &ldquo;And where a country has been blown to smithereens, you got, most of the cities are laying on their sides. The buildings are collapsed.&rdquo; <\/p>\n<p>Zelensky&rsquo;s approval rating <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2025\/01\/23\/world\/europe\/ukraine-zelensky-trump.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"hit upwards\">hit upward<\/a> of 90% as he rallied a national defense to Russia&rsquo;s invasion early in the war, but his support back home has slumped to under 50% this year as the war hits the third year and tens of thousands of Ukrainians <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2025\/01\/23\/world\/europe\/ukraine-russia-soldiers-loss.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"have been killed\">have been killed<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The Trump administration last week said it wasn&rsquo;t realistic for Ukraine to achieve its ultimate goal of NATO membership, a statement that aligns with Russia&rsquo;s position. Trump pointed to Zelensky&rsquo;s lack of accounting for the money that has been poured into Ukraine.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I believe President Zelensky said last week that he doesn&rsquo;t know where half of the money is that we gave him,&rdquo; Trump said. &ldquo;We gave them, I believe, $350 billion, but let&rsquo;s say it&rsquo;s something less than that. But it&rsquo;s a lot, and we have to equalize with Europe because Europe has given us &hellip; a very much smaller percentage of that.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1994561\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1994561\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Trump criticizes Zelensky: &#8216;Should have never started it<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2658,"featured_media":2403974,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Trump-inaugura.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[5894,50628,3634,32076,8630],"class_list":["post-2403973","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner","tag-politics","tag-russian-invasion","tag-trump","tag-washington-examiner","tag-zelensky"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Trump-inaugura.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2403973","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2658"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2403973"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2403973\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2403977,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2403973\/revisions\/2403977"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2403974"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2403973"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2403973"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2403973"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}