The key moments that have shaped Trump and Zelensky’s rocky relationship

Ties between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky have sunk to their worst point yet, The Independent reports, after Trump scrapped sanctions on Russia and agreed to buy Russian diesel. Zelensky, who for months had avoided antagonizing Washington, this time refused to back down. With winter bringing fresh Russian bombardment, it is uncertain whether the United States will keep supplying Kyiv with intelligence and Patriot interceptors. Special envoy Steve Witkoff is meeting Zelensky in Oslo to try to mend the rift.

The two men have a tangled history. In a 2019 call during Trump's first term, he pressed Zelensky for a favor involving Joe Biden and Hunter Biden, a conversation that led to Trump's first impeachment and his Senate acquittal in 2020. After Trump returned to office, a February 2025 White House meeting turned into a clash, with Trump and Vice President JD Vance accusing Zelensky of ingratitude. Aid and intelligence were halted for a time, then restored, and the two men met again at Pope Francis' funeral.

Trump's August summit with Vladimir Putin in Alaska yielded no clear deal. A 28-point U.S. plan in November, later trimmed to 20 points, still left Russia demanding territory.

Summarized by PolitiKool from The Independent’s reporting. Read the full story at The Independent →