The Kremlin has criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for his heated Oval Office meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, saying the Ukrainian leader showed a complete lack of diplomatic skills.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the Russian news agency Interfax that the exchange was unprecedented, in comments released on Monday.
He said Russian President Vladimir Putin had watched Friday’s meeting between the U.S. and Ukrainian presidents.
The meeting quickly devolved into a shouting match, with Trump accusing Zelenskyy of being ungrateful for U.S. support to his country.
The talks, held in front of the press, were cut short, and the Ukrainian delegation left the White House without signing a planned minerals deal with the United States.
Russian politicians had already reacted mockingly to the showdown, but this was the first reaction from Putin’s office.
Peskov said the talks between Trump and Zelenskyy highlighted how difficult it would be to achieve a peace deal in the conflict.
“The regime in Kyiv and Zelenskyy do not want peace. They want the war to continue,” Peskov said, echoing statements made by Trump on Friday.
Zelenskyy emphasized during the meeting that he wanted to end the war started by Russia.