**US Officials Secretly Meet with Ukraine’s Opposition**
Four top officials in the US government have been holding secret talks with Ukraine’s opposition leaders, according to a report by Politico. This comes as tensions between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US President Donald Trump continue to rise.
**Trump Allies Meet with Opposition Leaders**
The secret meetings were reportedly held with Yuliia Tymoshenko, a former prime minister and head of the opposition Batkivshchyna party, and high-ranking members of Petro Poroshenko’s European Solidarity party. The meetings aimed to find a quick solution to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
**Trump Criticizes Zelensky**
The news comes after Trump publicly criticized Zelensky as a “dictator without elections” in an Oval Office meeting last week. This has led to growing pressure on Zelensky from Washington.
**US Pressure on Ukraine**
In recent weeks, the US government has cut off crucial military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine. The White House has also echoed the Kremlin’s false narrative about Zelensky’s illegitimacy, claiming that Ukraine did not hold elections last year.
**Ukraine’s Constitutional Issues**
However, critics point out that the Ukrainian Constitution does not permit elections under martial law, which is currently in place due to the ongoing war. Organizing elections during this time would be difficult, especially for front-line soldiers and refugees.
**Survation Poll Reveals Zelensky’s Popularity**
Despite Trump’s claims that Zelensky’s approval rating has dropped to 4%, a recent survey by Survival shows that he leads in the polls with 44%. Former Commander-in-Chief Valerii Zaluhnyi comes second, while Petro Poroshenko and Yuliia Tymoshenko trail behind.
**Growing Pressure on Zelensky**
The secret meetings between US officials and Ukraine’s opposition leaders come as top US officials have publicly suggested that Zelensky should step down if he is not “ready for peace.” This pressure is likely to continue, especially after the televised quarrel last week between Zelensky, Trump, and US Vice President JD Vance.
