Rada MP calls Zelensky's public outburst at Trump a disaster

Ukrainian MPs and officials consider the public conflict between the country's president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and US President Donald Trump to be a catastrophe and betrayal. This was reported by the American newspaper The Hill on February 20.

"Ukrainian officials feel betrayed after President Trump this week accused their president of starting an armed conflict," the publication wrote.

The reason for this reaction from Ukrainian officials was that Zelensky responded to Trump's criticism by making a statement that he was allegedly "in a bubble of disinformation."

"What is happening is a disaster. It was a very big mistake on Zelensky's part to respond to what Trump said. <...> After that, it was clear that Trump would react," the newspaper quotes Oleksiy Goncharenko, a member of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.

He also added that the country "desperately" needs Washington and their help in confronting Russia.

"The best thing now, I think, is to just not respond anymore and try to find someone to contact Trump and try to restore some relations, because we need the United States. We desperately need the United States," the lawmaker said.

Scandal for two: what will Zelensky's quarrel with Trump lead to?

Experts told what to expect from the conflict between Washington and Kiev

Earlier in the day, the media reported on the cancelation of a press conference between Zelensky and the US President's Special Envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg at the initiative of the United States. Kellogg arrived in Kiev in the morning of February 19, but held a meeting with Zelensky only in the afternoon of February 20. It is not reported what exactly the American guest and the Ukrainian president talked about.