February 19th 2025.
In Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, there was a bit of tension between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Trump had made a statement claiming that Zelensky only had a 4% approval rating, which Zelensky quickly responded to on Wednesday. He expressed his respect for Trump as the leader of the American people, but also pointed out that Trump seems to be living in a world of false information.
Zelensky's popularity in Ukraine was actually on the rise, as shown by a recent poll published after Trump's comments. The survey, conducted between February 4th and 9th, reported that 57% of Ukrainians trust Zelensky. This is a 5% increase since December. The Kyiv Independent reported on this, highlighting Zelensky's continued support from the majority of his people. It is worth noting that Keith Kellogg, the US Special Envoy for Ukraine and Russia, arrived in Kyiv on Wednesday and is planning to meet with Zelensky soon.
Kellogg seemed optimistic about his visit, stating that it was an opportunity for successful negotiations. He also mentioned his plan to listen and then report back to President Trump upon his return to the United States. He emphasized that the US recognizes the importance of providing security guarantees for Ukraine.
Zelensky's sharp response came just 24 hours after senior officials from the US and Russia met for five hours in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Tuesday. Both countries agreed to form negotiating teams to find a resolution to the ongoing war in Ukraine. They also discussed the possibility of appointing ambassadors in both Moscow and Washington as soon as possible. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov made these announcements during a press briefing, following talks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, and US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff. The Russian side was also represented by high-ranking political, intelligence, and economic officials, including Yuri Ushakov, the Kremlin's foreign affairs advisor.
Lavrov explained that the most pressing matter is the appointment of ambassadors to the two countries, which has been hindered for many years due to obstacles created by the previous US administration. He stated that the deputy heads of the diplomatic departments will meet soon to discuss eliminating these barriers and improving the work of embassies and foreign institutions in both countries. The goal is to create more normal and productive relations. Lavrov also pointed out that during these discussions, the focus should not be on specific issues, but rather on systematically addressing and resolving any obstacles that may arise in the future.
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