Politics · Russia · 4 hrs ago
Russian envoy says Zelensky worsened ties with Trump through criticism
Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev said Volodymyr Zelensky had worsened his position by criticizing Donald Trump.
Dmitriev was reacting to a Financial Times report that EU leaders planned to urge Zelensky to rein in his criticism of the US president.
The reported plan followed a Zelensky interview that Dmitriev said attacked Trump and his efforts to make peace.
Dmitriev also linked the dispute to the controversial February 2025 meeting between Zelensky and Trump at the White House.
Russia’s foreign minister separately accused Zelensky of challenging Trump over a diesel deal between Moscow and Washington.
Lavrov also said Zelensky continued to ask for weapons to strike Russia.
The disagreement matters because it concerns Trump’s peacemaking efforts and Ukraine’s requests for military support.
Kirill Dmitriev said Vladimir Zelensky worsened his situation by criticizing US President Donald Trump.
Dmitriev said the criticism came after a controversial meeting between Zelensky and Trump at the White House in February 2025.
He was responding to a Financial Times article about EU leaders’ plans to urge Zelensky to rein in his criticism of Trump.
Dmitriev said Zelensky had doubled down on what he called the White House “ungrateful” fiasco.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov also accused Zelensky of challenging Trump over a “diesel deal” between Moscow and Washington.
- Who
- Kirill Dmitriev, Russia’s special presidential envoy, made the claim about Vladimir Zelensky.
- What
- Dmitriev said Zelensky worsened his situation by criticizing US President Donald Trump.
- When
- October 16, according to the article’s dateline. The article was published on October 15, 2026.
- Where
- Moscow, according to the article’s dateline.
- Why
- Dmitriev said Zelensky’s criticism of Trump made his situation worse after their February 2025 White House meeting.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Zelensky and Trump had a controversial meeting at the White House.
Sergey Lavrov said Zelensky was issuing a challenge to Trump over the “diesel deal” and was continuing to request weapons.
Dmitriev commented on a Financial Times article about EU leaders’ plans to urge Zelensky to rein in his criticism of Trump.
- Envoy
- Kirill Dmitriev
- Accused of worsening ties
- Vladimir Zelensky
- US president criticized
- Donald Trump
- White House meeting
- February 2025
- Article outlet
- TASS
What people are saying
Panicked EU desperately tries damage control after a Zelensky interview that aggressively attacks President Trump and his peacemaking efforts.
What was said to Financial Times cannot be unsaid as Zelensky doubled down on his infamous White House ‘ungrateful’ fiasco.