Medvedev Urges Trump to Assassinate Zelensky

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has called on Donald Trump to order the assassination of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Medvedev, a close ally of Vladimir Putin and currently Russia's number-two on the Kremlin's security council, claimed Zelensky has done more damage to Trump's interests than U.S. interventions in Venezuela, Cuba, and Iran combined.

In a social media post, Medvedev labeled Zelensky a "festering green parasite" who was "fleecing the Americans for enormous sums of money." He suggested that Trump could resolve the issue by instructing the secretary of war and the CIA director to eliminate Zelensky, stating, "The how, where, and by what means are irrelevant."

Medvedev further alleged that Zelensky "pestered Trump like a fat green fly, rudely demanding money and weapons" and "manipulated" Western leaders to turn them against Trump and his team. He also claimed Zelensky "repeatedly told Trump and his aides to get lost whenever they floated proposals for negotiating an end to the conflict" and brought the United States and NATO to the "brink of a global nuclear confrontation with Russia."

This inflammatory statement comes amid reports of Ukrainian strikes on Russian defense plants. Russia has accused Ukraine of using British-supplied Storm Shadow missiles and drones to hit a major defense plant in Yelets, Lipetsk region, and a high-tech Proton defense factory in Oryol. These plants are involved in manufacturing components for various Russian weapons systems. Initial reports indicated casualties from these strikes.

Meanwhile, Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, recently visited St. Petersburg to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin. During the meeting, Witkoff thanked Putin for freeing American teacher Stephen Hubbard and for lifting export controls on Russian diesel. Witkoff also presented Putin brought "ideas" for a potential peace deal between Russia and Ukraine, suggesting the resumption of trilateral talks.

Putin thanked Trump for his efforts to resolve the conflict, stating the U.S. leader had insisted on ending the war. Prior to his meeting with Putin, Witkoff had met with Zelensky in Norway to discuss the conflict. Hopes for peace talks were previously discussed after Zelensky suggested a three-way meeting with Trump and Putin.