Russia has blamed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for the breakdown of his meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, calling Zelensky’s behavior arrogant and provocative.
In a statement on Telegram, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova criticized Zelensky, saying, “Given Zelensky’s arrogance during the meeting, it is surprising that Trump showed restraint and did not resort to physical aggression.”
She further accused Zelensky of spreading falsehoods, particularly his claim that Kyiv was left alone at the beginning of the 2022 war. “He bites the hand that feeds him,” Zakharova said, emphasizing Trump’s unexpected patience.
Dmitry Medvedev, former Russian president and deputy head of Russia’s Security Council, was even harsher in his criticism. In a Telegram post, he referred to Zelensky as a “cocaine clown” and an “ungrateful pig,” adding that Trump was right to tell him that Kyiv was playing with the risk of World War III. Medvedev further urged the U.S. to cut off support for Ukraine.
According to Russian sources, the meeting between Trump and Zelensky in Washington was meant to discuss ending the Russia-Ukraine war and the transfer of Ukraine’s mineral resources to the U.S. However, tensions escalated when Trump urged Zelensky to negotiate with Russia, which Zelensky strongly opposed.
U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance reportedly told Zelensky he lacked gratitude, further worsening the situation. Eventually, Trump instructed his aides to escort Zelensky out, effectively ending the meeting in failure.