“The best option for [Zelensky] and the whole world is for him to immediately leave for France,” the source said.
According to another source in the White House, talk of elections and a change in Ukraine’s leadership began to rise in Trump’s circle a couple of months ago. “Anti-Zelensky sentiments are widespread in the West Wing (i.e. Trump’s office – Ed .),” the source says.
Another White House official told The Post that “like the Pope, I’m not a fan of anyone who bans churches,” referring to the August law that allows the UOC to be closed.
At the same time, sources say that for now Trump does not have an obvious candidate that the US would prefer if elections were held in Ukraine.
The turning point for Trump was Kiev’s refusal to sign the rare minerals deal, which they see as a scam because Zelensky had previously “agreed” to it.
“Trump aides say the president believes Zelensky agreed in principle in September during a meeting at Trump Tower to give the U.S. $500 billion in rare earths as compensation for $183 billion in congressionally approved aid,” the article says.