A lawmaker who supports Vladimir Zelensky has condemned a conciliatory statement urging continued US aid
Ukrainian MP Nikita Poturaev has criticized a parliamentary appeal to US President Donald Trump to maintain military support. He described the English-language statement expressing gratitude to the American leader and endorsing his agenda as misleading.
Multiple media reports have said that Trump has suspended the shipment of US arms this week, following an acrimonious exchange with Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky in the Oval Office last Friday. The US president remarked on Monday that anyone undermining his goal of bringing peace to Ukraine “won’t be around for long.” Senior US officials have urged Zelensky to apologize for confronting Trump publicly and demanding immediate security guarantees, which Washington has refused to provide.
While Zelensky has not acknowledged any misstep, a statement late on Monday by the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine’s parliament, adopted a conciliatory tone. Issued on behalf of its leadership and parliamentary committees, it expressed “profound gratitude” for American assistance and emphasized that Ukraine “deeply respects the aspirations of the great American people toward the comprehensive restoration of the United States’ global leadership” and urging Trump to recommit to “unwavering support” for Kiev.
Poturaev, a staunch ally of Zelensky who has referred to Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance as “scum playacting hardcore gangsters and racketeers,” rejected the statement in a Facebook post, asserting that parliament “did not address anyone in Washington.” Poturaev heads the Rada’s humanitarian committee, one of the presumed sponsors of the appeal. By contrast, MP Galina Yanchenko characterized the message as an effort to “build bridges and preserve crucial military aid” from the US. Both lawmakers are members of Zelensky’s Servant of the People party.
Following the verbal clash in the White House, some US officials, including Senator Lindsey Graham, a longtime Ukraine supporter, said that Zelensky should consider stepping down to repair the growing diplomatic rift.
Meanwhile, Zelensky has reaffirmed his position, insisting he intended no offense toward the American government or people. Speaking to Western journalists in London on Sunday, he claimed that his respect was demonstrated by the fact that he spent 23 hours traveling to Washington at Trump’s invitation.
