Former President Donald Trump has publicly accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of planting a “pre-scripted” question during their recent closed-door meeting, sparking a political firestorm as delicate talks to end the Russia-Ukraine war intensify behind the scenes. The extraordinary claim, made during an impromptu press stop outside his Florida estate, has already drawn sharp reactions from both Kyiv and Washington.
“That question was planned,” Trump told reporters in a brief but explosive exchange captured by CNN. “He planted it. Everyone in the room knew it. But I don’t play games like that. I told him the truth — I’m not going to say what he wants me to say.” His statement came just 24 hours after he sat down with Zelenskyy for what aides described as “a candid conversation” about a potential path toward ending the conflict.
Sources familiar with the meeting told Politico the exchange grew tense when Zelenskyy asked Trump directly whether he would guarantee U.S. military support if he returns to office. Trump, according to these sources, appeared irritated and later told his advisers he believed the question had been fed to Zelenskyy in advance by political rivals. “It was a trap,” one adviser quoted Trump as saying.
Trump claims Zelenskyy “planted” a question at their meeting and calls it “a trap.” @politico
The meeting itself, held at an undisclosed location in Europe earlier this week, was part of a growing push from international allies to pressure both Moscow and Kyiv toward a diplomatic resolution. Multiple officials told The New York Times the tone was “frosty but pragmatic,” with Trump outlining what he called “a realistic plan” to end the war “within 24 hours” — a claim he has repeated publicly since leaving office.
Zelenskyy’s team has denied Trump’s accusations outright. In a statement released through the presidential office and obtained by Reuters, a spokesperson said, “President Zelenskyy’s question was direct, transparent, and appropriate for the gravity of the moment. There was no coordination, no planting, and no trap.”
The Ukrainian president has made no secret of his fears about a potential shift in U.S. policy if Trump wins another term. During a recent interview with BBC News, he warned that “American unity is critical” and expressed concerns that a change in leadership could embolden Russia at a pivotal moment in the war.
Zelenskyy’s office: “There was no coordination, no planting, and no trap.” @Reuters
But Trump’s remarks have once again thrown the already fragile diplomatic environment into turmoil. According to sources who spoke to The Washington Post, European leaders had been quietly optimistic that Trump’s involvement could accelerate a ceasefire framework. That optimism, one diplomat admitted, has now “cooled significantly.”
“This was supposed to be a show of unity, not division,” one senior EU official said privately. “What we saw instead was political theater. And it may make things harder, not easier.”
Trump has long insisted he could broker an end to the war between Russia and Ukraine almost immediately if elected. He has claimed — without providing specifics — that his personal relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin would give him unique leverage to “make a deal nobody else can.” This approach has alarmed many in NATO who fear it could result in concessions to Moscow.
One official familiar with the conversation told Axios that Trump appeared “visibly frustrated” during the meeting. “He walked in expecting a warm reception and walked out convinced they tried to corner him,” the official said. “He believes Zelenskyy’s team was trying to box him in on military commitments he doesn’t want to make.”
“He walked in expecting a warm reception and walked out convinced they tried to corner him,” source says. @axios
Inside Ukraine, the accusation has been met with a mix of anger and disbelief. Several lawmakers criticized Trump’s statement as “reckless,” arguing that it undermines one of Kyiv’s most critical alliances at a time when Russian forces have intensified strikes across multiple fronts. “This isn’t a game,” one Ukrainian MP told Al Jazeera. “This is a war for our existence.”
In Washington, reaction has split sharply along partisan lines. Trump’s allies defended his comments, claiming Zelenskyy was trying to “trap” him into committing to policies he doesn’t support. Critics, however, accused him of once again sowing chaos for political gain. “He’s undermining U.S. credibility in the middle of a war,” one Democratic lawmaker told MSNBC. “That’s not leadership. That’s sabotage.”
U.S. intelligence officials told AP News that they were briefed on the meeting but declined to comment on the substance of the conversation. However, one senior analyst suggested Trump’s remarks could complicate backchannel negotiations that have quietly intensified between Western nations and Russia in recent weeks.
“He’s undermining U.S. credibility in the middle of a war,” Democratic lawmaker says. @MSNBC
Putin has remained silent on the accusation, though Russian state media has already seized on Trump’s words to portray Zelenskyy as manipulative and desperate. Analysts told The Economist that the Kremlin is likely to use this episode to drive wedges between Ukraine and its Western partners.
As tensions rise, diplomatic observers are warning of lasting consequences. “Every statement at this level matters,” said former U.S. ambassador to NATO Nicholas Burns in an interview with NPR. “When Trump accuses a wartime leader of staging questions, it’s not just theater — it can shift alliances, weaken trust, and give adversaries leverage.”
For now, Zelenskyy has not responded directly to Trump’s latest remarks. His office, however, confirmed he remains committed to “working with any U.S. administration” to end the war on “fair and secure terms.” Behind closed doors, sources say Ukrainian officials are frustrated but not surprised. “We expected turbulence,” one aide told Financial Times. “This is Trump’s style. But the stakes are enormous.”
Meanwhile, in Washington, senior officials are closely watching the fallout. With the war entering yet another brutal winter and U.S. political tensions rising, what began as a single planted-question accusation may soon carry far-reaching consequences far beyond that one room.