Moscow Reacts Strongly to Zelensky-Trump Clash in Washington

Moscow wasted no time in responding to the highly publicized confrontation between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and former U.S. President Donald Trump in the Oval Office. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova characterized Zelensky’s visit to Washington as “a complete failure.” In a statement published on the ministry’s official website, she accused the Ukrainian leader of being “obsessed with continuing the war,” while reaffirming that Russia’s strategic objectives in Ukraine “remain unchanged.”

Zakharova also commented on the U.S. administration’s handling of the meeting, stating that President Trump and Vice President JD Vance had demonstrated “restraint” in response to what she described as Zelensky’s “false claims.” On Telegram, she criticized the Ukrainian president for alleging that Kyiv had been left without support in 2022, calling it “his biggest lie.” She further remarked that it was remarkable how Trump and Vance “restrained themselves and did not react more forcefully.”

Adding to the chorus of criticism, Kirill Dmitriev, head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund and a key Russian negotiator in recent talks with the U.S. in Saudi Arabia, described the moment as “historic.” Meanwhile, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, now deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, took to Telegram to mock Zelensky, referring to him in derogatory terms and asserting that the Ukrainian leader had been firmly rebuked during his White House visit.

The exchange highlights the deepening rift between Moscow and Kyiv, with Russia continuing to frame Zelensky’s diplomatic efforts as ineffective, while tensions between Ukraine and its Western allies remain under close international scrutiny.