US President Donald Trump has expressed his frustration over Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent comments questioning the legitimacy of Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky. Despite his disappointment, Trump maintains that his relationship with Putin remains intact.
During a conversation with reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday, Trump did not hold back. “I wasn’t happy about it. In fact, I was very angry,” he stated, referring to Putin’s stance that Zelensky is no longer a legitimate leader. “He’s supposed to be negotiating peace, whether he likes him or not.”
Zelensky’s presidential term technically ended in May 2024, but he has refused to hold new elections, citing martial law as justification. Moscow now considers Zelensky illegitimate, arguing that Ukraine’s legal authority has shifted to its parliament. Putin has even suggested a temporary UN-led administration to oversee elections and restore constitutional legitimacy.
The Russian president warned that any peace agreement with the current Ukrainian government might be short-lived, as new leadership could emerge and discard prior commitments.
Trump, however, made it clear that he would not tolerate any actions that jeopardize ceasefire negotiations. He hinted at imposing new sanctions on Russia if he determines that Moscow is responsible for any setbacks in peace talks.
Still, the US president downplayed suggestions that his personal rapport with Putin has suffered. “We’ve always gotten along well,” he said, dismissing past accusations of collusion as a “hoax” concocted by political opponents, including Hillary Clinton and Adam Schiff.
While taking issue with Putin’s dismissal of Zelensky, Trump also expressed skepticism about the Ukrainian leader. He accused Zelensky of being unreliable, particularly regarding a rare-earth minerals deal with the US. Trump warned that any attempt by Zelensky to renegotiate the agreement would lead to “big, big problems.”
His remarks come despite his previous characterization of Zelensky as a “dictator without elections” in February—a statement he later appeared to soften.
Washington recently mediated a 30-day ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, focusing on halting attacks on energy infrastructure. Though Zelensky publicly supports the agreement, Moscow has accused Ukrainian forces of violating the truce, allegedly to derail Trump’s diplomatic efforts. Despite this, the Kremlin has stated it will uphold the ceasefire as a gesture of goodwill toward the US.
Trump’s latest comments reflect his complex balancing act—standing firm on certain issues with Russia while preserving his long-standing relationship with Putin. Whether this approach will pay off remains to be seen as tensions in Ukraine persist.
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