Embarrassing miss from Trump's top diplomat

Trump's top diplomat didn't know when the war started

Isak Fritzon

Published 22.01

 

The US negotiating delegation's lack of knowledge is worrying, says Oleksandr Merezhko, the chairman of the Ukrainian parliament's foreign affairs committee. Photo: Evan Vucci /AP/TT

A top US diplomat participating in peace talks between Ukraine and Russia lacks basic knowledge about the war, reports the Kyiv Independent.

The diplomat did not know when the full-scale invasion started. The official also allegedly talked about Ukraine's vice president - a position the country does not even have.

The White House calls the information "nonsense". 

Quick version

• A top US diplomat at the peace talks lacks basic knowledge about the war in Ukraine.
  Ukraina.
• The White House dismissed the reports as "nonsense" and highlighted the US efforts to save lives.
• The diplomat's statements have caused concern in Kiev, where the competence of the US negotiating delegation is being questioned.

In conversations with reporters, the senior official incorrectly said that Kyrylo Budanov is Ukraine's vice president. In fact, Ukraine does not have a vice president. Budanov is instead the new head of the presidential administration and chief of staff in President Volodymyr Zelensky's government.

Kyrylo Budanov, head of the presidential administration and chief of staff in President Volodymyr Zelensky's government. Photo: Evgeniy Maloletka / AP

"Not aware"

The top diplomat, who is participating in peace talks between Moscow and Kiev, also had a lack of knowledge about when the war began. The official was asked if the US wants to end the war before the fourth anniversary.

– I was not aware of the date of the anniversary, the diplomat replied.

– I do not think we feel any pressure because of the fourth anniversary.

White House response

After the Kyiv Independent published the report, the White House has responded to the information.

“It is pathetic that this ‘reporter’ was too afraid to contact the White House for comment, as he often does, because he knows that this story is nonsense and that the United States has worked incredibly hard to save lives,” White House press secretary Anna Kelly wrote in a statement.

The statements have raised concerns in Kiev. Several critical voices are now questioning the competence of the US negotiating delegation under President Donald Trump.

The White House dismisses the information. Photo: Susan Walsh / AP

Many in the delegation lack previous diplomatic experience.

– It is a serious problem. The delegation has already made several major mistakes – both technical and serious diplomatic ones, said Oleksandr Merezhko, the chairman of the Ukrainian parliament’s foreign affairs committee.

 

Russia’s full-scale invasion has been going on for almost four years. Photo: Efrem Lukatsky / AP