The rift between President Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky grew deeper over the past 48 hours as the two traded barbs in separate interviews. Speaking to Newsmax, Trump charged Zelensky with exploiting Washington’s generosity while refusing to negotiate an end to the war with Russia: “Where is the cash that we gave to Ukraine? Where is all the equipment? Biden was giving them missiles, and they were being sold on the open market.” “I call [Zelensky] P.T. Barnum,” Trump told host Rob Finnerty.

“Zelensky is not a good guy for us to deal with,” Trump went on. “He doesn’t want to settle. He says he wants to settle, but he doesn’t. No, I’m not a big fan of Zelensky.... They’ve destroyed that country…. I find Zelensky to be more difficult to deal with than Putin,” Trump said.