Trump operates in information ecosystem that echoes Putin’s views – former U.S. Ambassador to Russia

Suspilne reported the information.

"He is in an information ecosystem that reflects Putin's views. I wish he spent more time talking to Ukrainians. That he would meet with Ukrainian soldiers, like the ones I met in Munich - so they could tell him about the tragedies of this war," McFaul stated.

He suggests that Trump receives news from only one perspective. According to the former ambassador, this situation is dangerous not only for Ukraine but also for the United States itself.

"For two reasons. First, it means that Trump simply does not understand the situation. Second, it undermines the efforts of his negotiation team when dealing with the Russians. It weakens their position. Because if Putin sees that everything is going the way he wants, it means he can ask for even more. After all, his position becomes stronger," emphasized Michael McFaul.

When asked how he assesses Trump’s statement that Volodymyr Zelenskyy is a "dictator," McFaul replied: "As an American, I am ashamed of what he says. I find it terrible that he calls Zelenskyy a dictator - while never criticizing Putin."

Background

On Tuesday, February 18, U.S. President Donald Trump held a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, where he discussed the negotiations with Russia that took place in Saudi Arabia.

The White House chief also made a claim that the U.S. had provided Kyiv with approximately $350 billion in aid. He questioned where the funds had gone, stating that he had never seen a report detailing their allocation.

President Zelenskyy responded to Trump's demand for aid reimbursement, noting that the war has cost $320 billion, with $200 billion provided by the U.S. and the EU.

On February 19, Trump said that Zelenskyy refuses to hold elections and has very low ratings in Ukrainian polls. He called Zelenskyy a “dictator without elections.” At the same time, EU Ambassador Katarina Mathernova argues that elections in Ukraine can be held no earlier than six months after the end of martial law.

U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance also criticized Zelenskyy for his reaction to Trump's statements about his ratings.

On February 20, Donald Trump stated that Russia "holds the cards" in peace negotiations to end the war in Ukraine, citing its control over a significant amount of territory.