Zelensky Accuses Trump of Being in Russian "Disinformation Space" Over Approval Ratings Remark

Kyiv  – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused former U.S. President Donald Trump of being influenced by Russian disinformation following Trump's claim that Zelensky’s approval rating had plummeted to just four percent.

"Unfortunately, President Trump, who we have great respect for as the leader of the American people, is living in a disinformation space," Zelensky said during a press briefing in Kyiv. He asserted that the figure cited by Trump "comes from Russia" and does not reflect reality.

Trump’s remarks came as he called for presidential elections in Ukraine, despite the country's ongoing martial law, which prohibits such elections. "He's down at four percent approval rating," Trump stated on Tuesday, without citing a source for the claim.

However, a recent survey conducted by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology, a respected Ukrainian polling agency, found that 57% of respondents still trust Zelensky, while 37% expressed distrust, and the remainder were undecided.

Trump’s comments coincided with a high-level diplomatic meeting between U.S. and Russian foreign ministers in Saudi Arabia, marking their first official talks since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The discussions reportedly focused on reassessing diplomatic relations and exploring potential pathways to end the war.

Meanwhile, Kyiv and its European allies have voiced concerns over being excluded from negotiations involving Russia, fearing that key decisions about Ukraine's future could be made without their direct involvement.