Saying that Putin is a thief, a Hitler of our century: it's completely, completely wrong, says 65-year-old Svitlana to AFP's correspondent in Kyiv. She wore a white hat and fur coat against the cold and showed complete distrust of American President Donald Trump and his U-turn compared to former President Joe Biden's uncompromising support for Ukraine.
Trump's statements seem to come directly from the Kremlin. It's as if Moscow is writing everything (that Trump says) for him, continues Svitlana.
Downward Spiral
The interview was conducted before Trump called Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyj a "dictator", but the White House's previous statements are enough to evoke mistrust and anger.
It's not just me, but all Ukrainians, who will draw their own conclusions about who Trump is, says soldier Banias to AFP.
And he notes that the development is absurd:
Blaming Ukraine for starting the war, it's some kind of absurdity. As a Ukrainian, it's impossible to understand.
Three Years of Invasion
The cold is biting in the capital, air raid sirens and power outages have been a recurring daily routine for nearly three years, as well as funerals for soldiers who have fallen in the Russian invasion war.
The statements from Donald Trump, his closest associates, and representatives of the American administration have come at a rapid pace, making it difficult to navigate through everything that's being said, thinks student Valerij, who calls for some reflection.
It's only been a month since the presidential change in the USA. I think like this: it's still unclear whether Trump's policy will come at Ukraine's expense, says 20-year-old Valerij to AFP's correspondent.
