Trump's Ukraine Comments Strain US-Ukraine Relations

Despite former President Donald Trump's claims that Russian President Vladimir Putin seeks peace, U.S. intelligence suggests Putin remains committed to either annexing Ukraine or ensuring it becomes a dependent state. Trump's remarks blaming Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for the conflict and labeling him a dictator have drawn criticism from European media and strained U.S.-Ukraine relations. This rhetoric comes amidst U.S. and Russian officials discussing strengthening ties and the potential for a Trump-Putin meeting, with no Ukrainian officials involved. Meanwhile, reports indicate Putin is planning psychological operations to destabilize Ukraine and potentially replace Zelensky with a pro-Kremlin leader.