The quote attributed to President Volodymyr Zelensky, claiming he «no longer feels like a welcome guest in the United States,» is entirely fabricated. No such remark appears in official transcripts, press releases, or credible media coverage. In reality, Zelensky’s statements following his meeting with Donald Trump were measured, underscoring Ukraine’s willingness to maintain constructive dialogue and cooperation with Washington.
Anonymous Telegram channels and social media users are circulating claims that after his October 17 meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky allegedly remarked that he «no longer feels like a welcome guest in the United States.»
The claim is unfounded. Zelensky never made any such remark, and the fabricated quote appears in neither official transcripts nor credible media reports. In fact, his public statements underscored a constructive tone, stressing Ukraine’s readiness for dialogue and commitment to peace. Zelensky also emphasized the importance of sustained U.S. support as Kyiv continues to defend itself against Russia’s ongoing aggression.
Zelensky echoed Trump’s call to «stop the war where it stands,» saying, «The president is right.» At the same time, he made clear that Russia remains the aggressor—a key distinction, he stressed, for shaping any future framework of U.S.-Ukrainian cooperation.
Zelensky also reaffirmed his government’s commitment to securing long-term security guarantees and modernizing Ukraine’s defense capabilities—particularly in air defense, missile systems, and drones—through close cooperation with Washington. According to Axios, Trump declined to approve the transfer of Tomahawk missiles, signaling that diplomacy remains his current priority. Zelensky later remarked, «Trump didn’t say ‘no,’ but he didn’t say ‘yes’ either.»
According to monitoring data from Osavul, the fabricated quote first surfaced on October 21 on the pro-Kremlin Telegram channel Sanya vo Floride (Sanya in Florida). The claim was quickly amplified by Russian state media and affiliated social media accounts, spreading across multiple platforms within hours.
The disinformation campaign seeks to undermine U.S.-Ukrainian relations by suggesting that Washington’s support for Kyiv is waning. Through fabricated quotes, Russian propaganda aims to erode trust between allies, shake Ukrainians’ confidence in Western backing, and cast doubt on President Zelensky’s credibility as a diplomatic partner in the eyes of both domestic and international audiences.
Previously, StopFake also refuted claims that, during President Zelensky’s U.S. visit, no officials from the Trump administration met him at the airport.
