Talks with 'courageous' Zelenskyy were 'extensive and positive', US envoy says just days after Trump dictator comments
by Henry Moore · LBCBy Henry Moore
The US held "extensive and positive" talks with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Trump’s envoy for war has said.
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Keith Kellog met with Zelenskyy in Kyiv on Thursday amid rising tensions between Ukraine and the United States.
Their meeting came less than 24 hours after President Trump branded Zelenskyy a “dictator” in a furious social media rant.
Taking to X, Kellogg wrote: "A long and intense day with the senior leadership of Ukraine.
"Extensive and positive discussions with [Zelenskyy], the embattled and courageous leader of a nation at war and his talented national security team."
Despite Kellogg’s positive comments, Trump and his billionaire ally Elon Musk continue to attack the Ukrainian leader.
A chainsaw-wielding Elon Musk accused Zelenskyy of running a 'fraud machine feeding off dead soldiers' in a fresh attack on the Ukrainian leader.
It comes after the White House revealed that Donald Trump was "very frustrated" with Zelenskyy and had a "personal" problem with him.
Musk reiterated calls for the Ukrainian president to hold an election but claimed he wouldn't because "he knows he would lose in a landslide".
Writing on X, Musk said: "In reality, he is despised by the people of Ukraine, which is why he has refused to hold an election. I challenge Zelenskyy to hold an election and refute this. He will not."
He added: "President Trump is right to ignore him and solve for peace independent of the disgusting, massive graft machine feeding off the dead bodies of Ukrainian soldiers."
The tech billionaire did not elaborate further but appeared to echo previous accusations that Zelenskyy wants to "keep the gravy train" of foreign aid running with the war.
Musk attended the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) with Argentina Prime Minister Javier Millei on Thursday, where he appeared in a MAGA hat holding up a chainsaw - representing the cuts he was making to the federal government.
As tensions between the US and Ukraine continue to grow, a joint conference, which was due to take place on Thursday, was cancelled.
Cameras were briefly let in before being ushered out. The pair then went into talks.
Zelenskyy later shared details of the talks in a social media post saying he had a "productive meeting" with US Chief Envoy to Ukraine Keith Kellogg.
"From the very first second of this war, Ukraine has sought peace. We must and can ensure that peace is strong and lasting—so that Russia can never return with war. Ukraine is ready for a strong, effective investment and security agreement with the President of the United States."
He added: "Strong Ukraine-U.S. relations benefit the entire world."
Trump previously sparked outrage after called Zelenskyy a "dictator".
The comments came as the US and Russia hold peace talks without Ukraine, leading many to believe the Trump administration has abandoned Europe to Putin and Russia.
On Wednesday night, Sir Keir Starmer backed Zelenskyy, saying it was "perfectly reasonable" for Kyiv to suspend elections during the war.
Downing Street says Sir Keir also expressed his support for US-led efforts to get a lasting peace.
Read more: Starmer shows support for 'democratically elected' Zelenskyy after Trump 'dictator' comments
A Downing Street spokesperson said on Wednesday evening: “The Prime Minister spoke to President Zelenskyy this evening and stressed the need for everyone to work together.
“The Prime Minister expressed his support for President Zelenskyy as Ukraine’s democratically elected leader and said that it was perfectly reasonable to suspend elections during war time as the UK did during World War II.
Zelenskyy, who was elected as president of Ukraine in May 2019, postponed elections which were previously scheduled to go ahead in 2024 after martial law was put in place across the country.
Donald Trump calls Zelenskyy a 'dictator'
In his TruthSocial post, Trump wrote: "Think of it, a modestly successful comedian, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, talked the United States of America into spending $350 Billion Dollars, to go into a War that couldn’t be won, that never had to start, but a War that he, without the U.S. and “TRUMP,” will never be able to settle.
"The United States has spent $200 Billion Dollars more than Europe, and Europe’s money is guaranteed, while the United States will get nothing back.
"Why didn’t Sleepy Joe Biden demand Equalization, in that this War is far more important to Europe than it is to us — We have a big, beautiful Ocean as separation."
James O'Brien reacts to Trump's 'lies' about Zelenskyy
In the ongoing war of words, Zelenskyy accused Trump of being "trapped in a disinformation bubble" after he accused the Ukrainian leader of starting the war.
Speaking in a news conference, Zelenskyy said he is "seeing a lot of disinformation" from Russia.
He's also accused Trump is 'helping' Putin 'to come out of isolation' by working with him.
He said: "With all due respect to President Donald Trump as a leader, he is living in this disinformation space."
The Ukrainian leader added: "Look, we all want a victory, and we want Trump to win, and we want Ukraine to win, all of us to succeed.
"But I am protecting Ukraine. I can't sell it away. I can't sell our state.
"He also dismissed suggestions that he should step down as leader, or that his approval ratings are at 4%.
The Ukrainian leader said that it was Russian disinformation - his approval ratings are actually 50%.