In a recent Cabinet meeting, Donald Trump was confronted with comments from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who suggested that Russian influence had seeped into Trump’s administration. Instead of denying it, Trump responded in his usual roundabout way, saying, “Well, probably they have been influenced to get this thing settled because Ukraine wants to see it settled… And I think if I weren’t president this would never happen.”

Zelenskyy’s concerns stem from instances where Trump echoed Russian President Vladimir Putin’s narratives. For example, during a critical period when the U.S. withheld military aid from Ukraine, Trump repeated a false claim from Putin about Russian forces encircling Ukrainian troops in Kursk. Zelenskyy dismissed this as a lie but noted that Trump readily amplified it. He pointed out a troubling pattern of U.S. officials parroting Putin’s talking points instead of trusting their own intelligence agencies.

This isn’t the first time Trump’s ties to Russia have raised eyebrows. The infamous June 2016 Trump Tower meeting involved Donald Trump Jr., Jared Kushner, and Paul Manafort meeting with Russian lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya, who promised damaging information on Hillary Clinton. This meeting, initially misrepresented by Trump Jr., highlighted the campaign’s willingness to engage with Russian operatives.

Furthermore, the Mueller Report documented at least 140 contacts between Trump associates and Russian nationals or WikiLeaks during the 2016 campaign and transition period. While no criminal conspiracy was established, these interactions demonstrated a concerning openness to Russian assistance.

Zelenskyy’s observations underscore a persistent issue: the susceptibility of Trump’s circle to Russian influence. As Russia continues its aggressive actions, such as the recent strikes on the Ukrainian city of Sumy that injured 74 people, including 13 children, the implications of this influence remain deeply troubling.

In summary, Trump’s evasive responses and the pattern of his administration echoing Russian narratives highlight ongoing concerns about foreign influence at the highest levels of American politics.

Q: Zelensky said some of your team are influenced by Russian disinformation?

Trump: Probably to get this thing settled because Ukraine wants to see it settled, and Russia wants to see it settled. 3/ pic.twitter.com/RYf5g6EfxH

— Tymofiy Mylovanov (@Mylovanov) March 24, 2025