President Volodymyr Zelensky and his wife Olena Zelenska set the candles in tribute to the ‘Heavenly Hundred Heroes’ in central KyivCredit: AFP
Jack Maidment Politics Live Blog Editor.
Dominic Penna Political Correspondent
20 February 2025
Volodymyr Zelensky is “despised” by the Ukrainian people and is “feeding off the dead bodies” of his countrymen, Elon Musk has claimed.
Parroting criticisms voiced by Donald Trump, Mr Musk wrote on X that Mr Zelensky’s approval ratings had slumped and accused the Ukrainian leader of rigging online opinion polls and the media to boost his popularity, without citing evidence.
“If Zelensky was actually loved by the people of Ukraine, he would hold an election,” the tech billionaire said. “He knows he would lose in a landslide, despite having seized control of ALL Ukrainian media, so he cancelled the election.
“In reality, he is despised by the people of Ukraine, which is why he has refused to hold an election.”
He went on to challenge Mr Zelensky to call an election and claimed Mr Trump was justified in freezing the Ukrainian leader out of peace negotiations.
“President Trump is right to ignore him and solve for peace independent of the disgusting, massive graft machine feeding off the dead bodies of Ukrainian soldiers,” he wrote.
Mr Zelensky met with Gen Keith Kellogg, the US envoy to Russia and Ukraine, in Kyiv this morning to discuss securing a lasting peace deal.
Shortly after Mr Musk’s post, Mr Zelensky expressed his gratitude to the US and underscored the importance for European security that “American strength is felt”.
He wrote on X: “I am grateful to the United States for all the assistance and bipartisan support for Ukraine and the Ukrainian people.”
Watch: Calling Zelensky a dictator is ‘ridiculous’, says Farage
Sky News video:
Russia shows no appetite for peace, says Lammy
The Kremlin shows no appetite for peace, David Lammy has said after listening to his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov talk at a closed-door meeting.
“We have not got anywhere near a negotiated settlement,” he said. “And I have to say, when I listen to what the Russians and what Lavrov has just said in the chamber this afternoon, I don’t see an appetite to really get to that peace.”
The Foreign Secretary was speaking on the sidelines of the G7 summit in South Africa, which has been overshadowed by dispute between members over the Ukraine war.
Pictured: Ukrainian soldiers take artillery positions
Ukraine ‘ready’ to sign security agreement with the US
Ukraine is ready to sign an investment and security agreement with the US, Volodymyr Zelensky has said.
The Ukrainian leader met with Gen Keith Kellogg, Donald Trump’s envoy to Ukraine and Russia, this morning in Kyiv for a meeting to discuss securing a lasting peace deal.
Following the meeting, Mr Zelensky released a statement on X thanking the US for its assistance and saying he had put forward a proposal for the terms of a ceasefire.
“Ukraine is ready for a strong, effective investment and security agreement with the President of the United States,” he wrote. “We have proposed the fastest and most constructive way to achieve results.”
His comments appeared to nod to a proposal he mooted last week for the US to provide security guarantees for Ukraine in exchange for gaining access to the country’s rare earth minerals and energy reserves.
Lammy accuses Russia of ‘Tsarist imperialism’
David Lammy accused Russia of “Tsarist imperialism” as he told Vladimir Putin to get serious about a lasting peace in Ukraine.
The Foreign Secretary said in a speech at a G20 meeting in South Africa that Britain was “ready to listen” to credible suggestions about ending the three-year conflict.
But in a break with Donald Trump, the US president who has blamed Ukraine for the war, he was highly critical of Moscow and said Putin had “learnt nothing” from Russia’s colonial past.
Mr Lammy said: “You know, mature countries learn from their colonial failures and their wars, and Europeans have had much to learn over the generations and the centuries. But I’m afraid to say that Russia has learned nothing.”
He added: “We are at a crucial juncture in this conflict, and Russia faces a test.
“If Putin is serious about a lasting peace, it means finding a way forward which respects Ukraine’s sovereignty and the UN Charter which provides credible security guarantees, and which rejects Tsarist imperialism, and Britain is ready to listen.
“But we expect to hear more than the Russian gentleman’s tired fabrications.”
Ivan Muskovy as usual demonstrating his loyalty to his Kremlin controllers. Hanging is too good for him.
Farage again has gone off script. Firstly breaking a 20 year habit of Kremlin support by stating that Ukraine must join Nato and now refuting the absurd trumputler claim of Zel being a dictator.
If his party completely drops putlerism, the way could be open for an electoral pact with the Tories.
musk probably fucked little kids and putler has videos of it.