Volodymyr Zelensky’s popularity has reportedly “skyrocketed” on the front since his showdown with Donald Trump in the Oval Office – after he showed an unwillingness to back down
Vladimir Putin knew the US would cut military aid and intelligence sharing with them, Ukrainian troops are said to believe.
Lieutenant Colonel Vano Nadiradze, a top commander in Ukraine, cannot “shake off the feeling” Moscow knew of Donald Trump’s intention. Within hours of the decision, Russian forces captured key villages across Kursk.
But despite the setback, Volodymyr Zelensky’s popularity has “skyrocketed” on the front since his feisty showdown with Donald Trump in the Oval Office. Lt Col Nadiradze said Mr Zelensky has been praised for his “unwillingness to back down and be bullied” since the debacle.
The special forces officer continued: “I could not shake off the feeling and impression that they knew beforehand that Trump would cut off military aid and intelligence sharing – the latter of which was a huge detriment to our efforts.
“The day Trump announced his decision, the Russians got two villages, Zhuravka and Novenke, giving them logistical access to Sudzha, the biggest town in Kursk. There was a real danger of being encircled there, so the command decided to vacate.”
Ukraine will fight on with or without US aid, Lt Col Nadiradze added. He slammed Elon Musk as “not stable” and “widely hated” in an interview with the Daily Mail.
Some 1,000 soldiers who took swathes of the Russian region in a daring counter-offensive last August. It was hoped the 390 square miles they seized would be a bargaining chip in the peace negotiations. However, after President Trump paused help two weeks ago, Russia has forced them to retreat from most of the territory.
The Ukrainian officer added: “We didn’t have the data about their movements, no satellite images.” But he said morale is high after their president stood up to Mr Trump in the Oval Office last month.
“Zelensky’s popularity in the army skyrocketed,” he said. “Nothing could have won him more hearts here, among soldiers, than his unwillingness to back down and be bullied.”
He added that while manpower is a problem, it is not “catastrophic”, saying “the firm belief is that Ukraine will fight on, with or without US aid”. Ukraine hopes the UK and the Europe will step up as Russia is a threat to ‘the entire West”.
His claims come after Mr Trump admitted he was “being a little bit sarcastic” when he repeatedly claimed he would have the Russia-Ukraine war solved within 24 hours. The Republician made the remarks when he was battling to win the US Presidential race last year – and even said he could achieve the feat before he took office.