NIGEL Farage has rounded on his pal Donald Trump — as America’s spat with Ukraine intensified.
The Reform UK boss rebuked his political soulmate the US President, saying: “Let’s be clear, Zelensky is not a dictator.”
APReform UK boss Nigel Farage rebuked his political soulmate the US President[/caption]
AFPUS President Donald Trump and key aides ramped up their criticism of Ukraine’s leader[/caption]
Mr Trump and key aides yesterday ramped up their criticism of Ukraine’s leader Volodymyr Zelensky as pleas from allies to unite against Russia’s Vladimir Putin were ignored.
White House figures have told Ukraine to “tone it down” and said “everything is on the table” in peace talks with Russia.
Ukraine has been left reeling after Mr Trump branded its hero wartime leader a dictator due to elections being cancelled because of the war and then froze Mr Zelensky out of peace negotiations.
Mr Farage said there should be a timetable for a Ukraine ballot, but added: “Russia is to blame for the invasion, of that there is no doubt.”
His words followed a separate rebuke from PM Sir Keir Starmer and other Nato leaders who rallied round Mr Zelensky.
But US-Ukraine relations soured further yesterday as Mr Trump said Russia “has the cards” in negotiations after taking “a lot of territory”.
EPAUkraine’s leader Volodymyr Zelensky railed against being cut out of US-Russia talks this week[/caption]
APA Russian airstrike destroyed a section of a block of flats in Kherson[/caption]
His billionaire pal Elon Musk also said Mr Zelensky was “despised” by his own citizens.
America is refusing to endorse a UN resolution condemning Moscow’s “aggression” on the third anniversary of the invasion.
White House National Security Adviser Mike Waltz warned Ukraine to “tone it down” and sign a deal to give the US hundreds of billions of pounds worth of minerals.
Mr Zelensky has balked at the suggestion and railed against being cut out of US-Russia talks this week.
Mr Waltz said US “frustration with President Zelensky is multi-fold” and urged him to show a “deep appreciation” for America’s help.
US Vice-President JD Vance also yesterday defended opening negotiations with the Kremlin — saying it puts Europe “on the cusp of peace”.
Fears of a deepening rift were raised as a press conference between Mr Zelensky and US envoy Keith Kellogg was cancelled at the last minute, though the pair had met.
Sir Keir is due to meet Mr Trump at the White House next week, where he will lobby for a security guarantee for Ukraine.
Yesterday a Russian airstrike destroyed a section of a block of flats in Kherson injuring at least six people and destroying 80 homes.
KREMLIN KILLS
RUSSIA let its soldiers execute at least 133 prisoners of war last year, experts say.
Drones helped investigators find evidence of Kremlin-approved war crimes.
In one video, a hooded Russian barks at comrades to film him before shooting six defenceless prisoners in their backs.
The killer was identified as Oleg Yakolev, 32, by the Financial Times.
He denied claims he was the killer, but told the FT that someone “killed those guys for a reason”.
Expert Yuri Belousov says war crimes are Russian “policy”.
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