Trump and Zelensky's rocky relationship: key moments that shaped it
Relations between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky have hit a new low after the US president lifted sanctions on Russia and agreed to purchase Russian diesel, raising fresh doubts about Washington's commitment to Ukraine's defense. The fracture follows months of careful efforts by Kyiv to avoid upsetting Trump, but Zelensky has now stood his ground amid questions over US intelligence sharing and missile support. The relationship has been rocky since 2019, when Trump asked Zelensky to investigate Joe Biden, leading to Trump's first impeachment. Key flashpoints include Trump's 2022 praise of Putin's invasion tactics, a contentious February 2025 White House meeting where Trump and JD Vance berated Zelensky, and the recent diesel deal. US envoy Steve Witkoff is now meeting Zelensky in Oslo to repair ties.