Ukrainians have come out in support of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, describing him as a defender of the country's interests, following his visit to the White House and tense conversation with President Donald Trump.
The unusual exchange in the Oval Office raised questions about future American support for Ukraine in the midst of its war with Russia. But despite the diplomatic fallout, many Ukrainians supported President Zelenskyy's firm stance.
Officials across Ukraine praised their leader's resilience, while some warned of the risk of losing critical American support.
Support and question marks from political figures
As two drones struck Ukraine's second-largest city, Kharkiv, on Friday evening, the head of the region bordering Russia, Oleh Syniehubov, praised President Zelenskyy.
“Our leader, despite the pressure, remains steadfast in defending the interests of Ukraine and Ukrainians. … We only need a just peace with security guarantees,” Mr. Syniehubov said.
Officials at the national, regional, and local levels also expressed their support for President Zelenskyy on social media.
"Unwavering commitment to Ukraine's interests and devotion to his country. This is what we saw today in the United States. Support for the President of Ukraine," Deputy Prime Minister Oleksii Kuleba wrote on the Telegram network on Friday.
However, not all Ukrainian political figures were so convinced to express support for the way the Oval Office meeting ended. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said he hoped “that Ukraine will not lose the support of the United States, which is extremely important for us,” as he put it.
"Today is not the time for emotions, from either side. We need to find common ground," Mayor Klitschko wrote in a post on the Telegram network.
However, many Ukrainians did not seem concerned about the clash between the presidents, supporting the idea that the Ukrainian leader had defended the dignity and interests of his country, not budging from his stance in the face of criticism from two of the most powerful people in the world.
In Kiev, pensioner Nataliia Serhiienko, 67, said she thought Ukrainians supported their president's response to Washington "because Zelenskyy fought like a lion."
"They had a heated meeting, a very heated conversation," she said. But Zelenskyy was "defending Ukraine's interests."
Kiev resident Artem Vasyliev, 37, said he saw a "lack of respect" from the United States in the White House standoff, despite the fact that Ukraine "was the first country to stand up to Russia." VOA
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