Zelensky Fires Back At Trump’s Claim That Ukraine ‘Started’ War With Russia: ‘Living In A Disinformation Bubble’

Yves Herman, Pool Photo via AP

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky fired back at President Donald Trump’s claim that Kyiv, not Moscow, was responsible for the war that began with Russia’s invasion in 2022 and accused him of “living in a disinformation bubble.”

Trump’s remarks made at Mar-a-Lago on Tuesday came as the U.S. and Russia held diplomatic talks in Riyadh, reportedly aiming to “lay the groundwork for future cooperation”—conspicuously without Ukraine’s participation—in talks, combined that have signaled a dramatic shift in posture toward Russia.

At his Florida estate, Trump expressed frustration at Ukraine’s protest at having been sidelined during opening negotiations: “You should have never started it. You could have made a deal.” He also expressed frustration that Ukraine was “upset about not having a seat” at the negotiations despite the fact that it is their country under siege.

Zelensky, speaking in Kyiv on Wednesday, said that Trump was pushing “a lot of disinformation coming from Russia.”

He added: “Unfortunately, President Trump, with all due respect for him as the leader of a nation that we respect greatly…  is living in this disinformation bubble.”

During his comments on Tuesday, Trump also took a swipe at Zelensky’s legitimacy, questioning why Ukraine hasn’t held elections. His comments closely echo those of Russian officials, who have repeatedly sought to delegitimize Zelensky’s government. The Ukrainian president’s term technically expired in May 2024, but elections remain impossible under martial law due to the ongoing war.