The Kremlin mocks Zelensky, saying he "looks ill" after a tense meeting with Trump.
A Russian spokesperson commented on the Ukrainian leader's appearance before his visit to the White House, which ended in a verbal confrontation and no agreement.
247 - The Kremlin has once again criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky following his visit to the White House, which ended without the signing of a mineral agreement and with a heated clash with Donald Trump and his vice president, JD Vance. Russian government spokesman Dmitry Peskov mocked the Ukrainian leader's physical condition, stating that he "doesn't look very well visually" and suggesting that the issue should be addressed directly to Zelensky. The statement was made in an interview with the Russian broadcaster Rossiya 1, conducted by journalist Pavel Zarubin and published on Saturday.
Zelensky's meeting with Trump and Vance on Friday aimed to formalize an agreement on strategic minerals. However, the meeting quickly turned into a verbal confrontation when the Ukrainian insisted that the United States continue to support Kiev unconditionally, rejecting Trump's mediating stance toward a possible peace deal with Moscow. The reaction from the former president and his vice president was harsh: both accused Zelensky of "playing with World War III" and of not showing gratitude for the vast military support received from Washington.
Tensions escalated to the point where the meeting was interrupted before the agreement was signed, with Zelensky demanding security guarantees and a more direct involvement of the American government in the war against Russia. According to press reports, the Ukrainian's stance deeply displeased Trump, who reportedly considered Zelensky's tone inappropriate and aggressive.
Another detail of the visit that generated repercussions was the Ukrainian president's attire. During the press conference, a journalist asked if Zelensky owned a formal suit, to which he replied affirmatively, assuring that he would wear "something more appropriate" at a future meeting. His preference for informal clothing had already been criticized on other occasions, especially in high-level diplomatic settings.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova described Zelensky's visit to the US as a "diplomatic and political failure" for Kyiv. According to her, the Ukrainian leader's behavior at the White House was "rude and irresponsible," reinforcing the Russian view that he represents "a dangerous threat to the international community." Zakharova reiterated Moscow's position that peace will only be possible when "the root causes of the conflict are completely eliminated."
The abrupt interruption of the meeting and the lack of a concrete agreement raised doubts about the future of US military support for Ukraine. According to the The Washington PostThe Trump administration may reconsider its policy of assistance to Kyiv in light of Zelensky's inflexible stance. Meanwhile, European leaders, such as German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, reaffirmed their commitment to Ukraine, highlighting the need for a peace based on Ukrainian sovereignty.
In Moscow, Russian political figures, including former President Dmitry Medvedev, mocked the situation and suggested that Washington should halt military aid to Kiev altogether. The diplomatic crisis exposes Zelensky's growing isolation and reinforces uncertainty about the future of the conflict and the role of the United States in peace negotiations.
