Ukraine even more united after Trump attacks Zelenskyy: Defense expert

Taipei, Feb. 20 (CNA) United States President Donald Trump's recent criticisms of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy are "not true and unfair" and have only united Ukraine even more, a visiting Ukrainian defense expert said in a Taipei forum Thursday.

Asked about Trump's recent remarks in which he made claims about President Zelenskyy's popularity dropping while calling the Ukrainian leader a "dictator" who refuses to hold elections, Olena Tregub, secretary general of the Kyiv-based Independent Anti-Corruption Commission (NAKO), said these accusations are baseless and "the words of Russian disinformation [campaign]."

"Ukrainians know that they want to live in a free country no matter what Donald Trump says and Ukrainians know that Zelenskyy is not a dictator," Tregub said during a plenary session of the two-day HFX Taipei forum.

Citing the latest polls, Tregub said Zelenskyy currently has a popularity rate of over 50 percent.

According to her, Ukrainians, regardless of whether they support Zelenskyy or dislike him, stand together even more than before in support of their leader after Trump's escalating attacks over the past week.

"Some Ukrainians are saying if there is indeed an election, even those who didn't vote for Zelenskyy will vote for him to show Trump that he shouldn't disrespect our legitimate democratically elected leader," she said.

Tregub said Ukraine has been very grateful for the support offered by the U.S. since the full scale Russian invasion three years ago.

"America is our main ally and at the beginning of the invasion 90 percent of our security assistance was coming from the United States."

American support has since dropped to 60 percent with the remaining 40 percent coming from European allies, she said. "So for us the question is can Europe step in and replace American assistance"

Ukraine will continue to defend the country with its biggest ally's support or not, she said. "This is our country. Ukrainian society remains united."

Trump's criticism of Ukrainian president "united our society even more," she added.

Tregub is a Ukrainian expert on defense reform, sanctions policy, and anti-corruption. She also serves as a member of the Anti-Corruption Council of the Ukrainian defense ministry, an elected body that ensures civilian oversight of defense spending during wartime.

Meanwhile, speaking during the same plenary session, former Canadian defense minister Peter MacKay said he understands that with the Trump administration's change of stance on Ukraine, people in Taiwan could be somewhat anxious about the future because America's assurances on protecting democracy "seem to be receding."

He suggested that Taiwan should look to countries other than the U.S. and also needs to strengthen trade, exchange and military exchanges with other democracies, including Canada.

According to organizers, the two-day event features on-and-off record speeches by former government officials and scholars from around the world, including former Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) and Akie Abe, wife of late Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, on issues concerning democracy, security, resilience and partnership.