Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (L) and now US President Donald Trump meeting on September 27, 2024, in New York. Photo: AFP / Ukrainian Presidential Press Service
A Ukrainian in New Zealand is concerned about the recent war of words that has broken about between the US President and his Ukrainian counterpart.
Donald Trump suggested that Ukraine started the war with Russia, dismissing Ukraine's concern that it had been left out of US-Russian talks in Saudi Arabia on ending the Ukraine war this week.
"Today I heard, 'oh, we weren't invited.' Well you've been there for three years, you should have ended it... you should have never started it. You could have made a deal," Trump said.
This prompted President Volodymyr Zelensky to respond, saying Trump lived in a 'disinformation bubble'
Trump responded, calling Zelensky 'a dictator' due to there not being an election since 2019, and the next elections were scheduled for 2024.
Ukrainian law prohibits parliamentary or presidential elections during a state of martial law, so Zelensky remained in office.
Zelensky vowed to hold one once the conflict ended.
Nataliya Shchetkova is from Ukraine and is now a permanent resident in New Zealand.
She said Trumps recent comments were very worrying.
"Many Ukrainian people are shocked and frustrated. We feel betrayed by Trump's recent comments and he blamed Ukraine and called the election while the country is under attack. So we've just found that Trump's words [are] so unfair,"
"We believe that maybe he doesn't understand the reality of the war and the suffering Ukrainians are going through.
"So we are just so hurt and disappointed, you know. We always saw the US as a strong ally, and in terms of the Russian narrative feels like, you know, a betrayal to those fighting for their survival."
Shchetkova said Trump's comments had brought up a lot of raw emotions for Ukrainian people.
"I can say that Trump's statements have stirred extremely deep emotions in Ukraine and Ukrainian people in New Zealand as well, ranging from anger, fear and disappointment, and many of us, you know, like feel let down.
She said she hoped all Ukrainians would remain strong in their fight for the independence and for the peace and taking the our land back.
"So it's, you know, like very strong feeling [at] this moment and we just, you know, every single day brings more news than previously so we are a bit scared about what we can expect."
Shchetkova didn't understand Trump's comments around calling Zelensky 'a dictator'.
"It is the last thing what we could expect from USA, because USA always was really, really strong ally of Ukraine, and calling Zelensky a dictator because there is no election."
"You know, I'm not like a politician person, but I can't understand how there possibly could be an election when there is a war in the country, when you know millions of the people just had to flee the country as a refugee and are in different countries until the war is finished."
Shchetkova believed there would only be able to be an election once the fighting was over.
Mahi for Ukraine spokesperson Kate Turska was also shocked by the comments.
"Let's remember that Putin has been in power for over 20 years, and in that time Ukraine has had over 5 elections, democratically elected leaders.
"The issue of elections in Ukraine is legal, not political. Under martial law, elections are prohibited.
"So only the restorations of security and ability of all Ukrainian citizens both in Ukraine and abroad to fully vote will create the conditions for actually fair and democratic elections, once the martial law is lifted, so those claims are absolutely bogus..."
Top US and Russian diplomats meeting in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday for talks on re-setting their countries' fractured relations and making a tentative start on trying to end the Ukraine war. Photo: AFP / Pool / Evelyn Hockstein
Turska said Trump negotiating peace without Ukraine was not diplomacy.
"It's appeasement, and it legitimises Russia's war of aggression.
"Absolutely, Ukrainians are shocked and offended because it sidelines the victim and it's dangerous precedent for the world. And the comments he's making accusing Ukraine of starting this war are completely preposterous.
"Ukraine deserves peace more than anyone in the world, and it wants to end as soon as possible.
"Peace must be lasting and just, and it requires security guarantees, so you have to force Russia into peace through strength, not Ukraine, into peace through appeasement," she said.
Turska said there would be community rallies around the country this weekend that stood with Ukraine.
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