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The remarks by Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Ukrainian
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, came a day after President Donald
Trump falsely suggested that Kyiv was to blame for the war,
which is entering its fourth year next week.
The U.S.-Russia talks in Riyad h, the Saudi capital, were held
without Ukraine and its European allies.
“Why should dominance be handed over to a country that is an
aggressor, a violator of international law, and the author of
aggression against Ukraine,” Podolyak said. “We still do not
understand this strategy.”
Podolyak said Ukraine was neither briefed on the talks ahead of
them or on their outcome.
“To me, the concept of ‘peace through strength,’ which the
American administration promotes, sounds strange,” he said,
adding that what was on display in Riyadh from the America side
was weakness.
“This contradiction is quite odd,” he added. “Therefore, ‘peace
through weakness’ in relation to Russia— for Europe and the
United States — is impossible. That would instead be peace
through violence.”
Trump echoed Russian narratives on Wednesday, claiming that
Zelenskyy, whose term expired last year, must face elections,
while Kyiv, citing its constitution, maintains that elections
cannot be held during wartime. The U.S. president then escalated
this claim by posting on social media that Zelenskyy was “a
Dictator without Elections.”
“Putin fiercely hates Mr. Zelenskyy. He understands that he
cannot break him. He has been unable to do so for three years,”
Podolyak said.
He suggested that Russia might seek to interfere in Ukraine’s
electoral process — should elections take place — to “create
significant internal tension and conflict" internally in
Ukraine.
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