US — Trump Calls for Accountability on $350 Billion in Ukraine Aid

U.S. President Donald Trump demanded that Ukraine provide a detailed accounting of the $350 billion in aid allocated by Washington. Expressing frustration over the lack of transparency regarding the funds, Trump insisted that Ukraine either explain how the money was spent or return it to the United States. He highlighted that European nations have contributed significantly less to Ukraine’s defense, despite their proximity to the ongoing conflict.

“Ukraine must explain where our money went or return it,” Trump stated emphatically, adding that the need for elections in Ukraine stems not from Russia, but from his own perspective and that of several other countries.

Trump also drew attention to the extensive devastation faced by Ukrainian cities, asserting that while Russia has the capability to completely obliterate Kyiv, it has chosen to limit its destructive efforts to just 20%. He argued that if Ukraine seeks to engage in peace negotiations, it must first conduct elections to secure the approval of its citizens. This, he emphasized, was not a demand from Russia, but rather his personal opinion shared by some international allies.

The president did not hold back in his criticism of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, particularly regarding Zelensky’s claim that Ukraine was not invited to the negotiating table. “You’ve been in this for three years. You should have ended this three years ago. You could have made a deal,” Trump remarked, implying that a different approach could have spared many cities from ruin and preserved more of the country’s territory.

In Russia, Trump’s comments were interpreted as a signal of growing distrust between Kyiv and the West. Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council, suggested that Zelensky is now “in a corner,” with his future actions potentially becoming unpredictable.

Trump also accused Zelensky of instigating the conflict with Russia, stating that an agreement could have averted the war. He called for an immediate resolution to the hostilities that have devastated Ukraine.

Zelensky, for his part, has hinted at the possibility of negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, contingent upon receiving security guarantees from the United States. He expressed a desire for “mutual understanding” with the American leadership before proceeding with dialogues with Moscow.

The Trump administration proposed a controversial deal that would allocate half of Ukraine’s mineral and oil resources to the U.S. in exchange for support. However, many Ukrainian and European officials believe Zelensky erred by not defining the value of these resources, thus allowing Trump to set the terms.

In Saudi Arabia, discussions between the United States and Russia aimed at normalizing relations and ending the ongoing conflict have raised concerns among Ukraine and its European allies about potential concessions made by the U.S. that might overlook Kyiv’s interests. Zelensky expressed apprehension that the U.S. and Russia might be discussing an ultimatum to Ukraine without its involvement.

Trump Questions Zelensky’s Legitimacy

Trump further expressed skepticism about Zelensky’s legitimacy, pointing to low levels of public trust in the Ukrainian president. Trump remarked that Zelensky’s popularity was “not high, to put it mildly.” He suggested that the Ukrainian leader would need to make critical decisions based on his standing.

Trump hinted at the necessity of elections in Ukraine, suggesting that “sometimes you have to have elections.” This comes amid speculation regarding potential changes in Ukrainian leadership and the ongoing conflict resolution efforts.