Media: Trump links arms supplies to Zelenskyy’s resignation

In a recent article, the German Bild news website highlights that US President Donald Trump has reportedly stated that he will not resume arms shipments to Ukraine until President Volodymyr Zelenskyy resigns from office.

According to the article, "People said that behind closed doors, Trump wants to pressure Zelenskyy to step down as president of Ukraine. How? Through political pressure. As long as the 47-year-old politician remains in power, Kyiv will not receive new American weapons."

Trump sees Zelenskyy not as a partner, but as an obstacle. This statement surfaced just ahead of a meeting between high-ranking American and Ukrainian officials in Saudi Arabia. The article notes that Ukraine appears to be shifting its negotiation strategy. While Kyiv initially planned to first secure security guarantees before pushing for a ceasefire, it now seems that Ukraine may no longer view this sequence as realistic. 

The diplomatic fallout stems from the February 28 meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy at the White House. The discussions were originally intended to centre on a mineral deal but quickly spiralled into a contentious dispute. The meeting, which also included US Vice President J.D. Vance, reportedly became heated, with Vance criticizing what he viewed as Kyiv’s ungrateful attitude toward American support. The tensions escalated to the point that Zelenskyy left the White House prematurely, and the anticipated agreement was never finalized.

By Naila Huseynova