“Ukraine's leadership has expressed ZERO gratitude for our efforts.”

Zelensky had thanked Trump publicly and repeatedly before the post. Two months earlier, at a meeting in New York recorded in the official Compilation of Presidential Documents, he opened: "Thank you so much, Mr. President. First of all, thank you for this meeting. Thank you for your personal efforts to stop this war just now, Mr. President." At his August 18, 2025 Oval Office visit, the Associated Press counted that he "said thanks nine times to Trump and others in the first minute of their brief public meeting," and at least seven more times in a second meeting with European leaders.

Hours after the post, Zelensky said it again: "Ukraine is grateful to the United States, to every American heart, and personally to President Trump for the help that, starting with the Javelins, is saving the lives of Ukrainians." The administration has disputed whether his thanks were enough: in the February 28, 2025 Oval Office meeting, Vice President Vance asked, "Have you said thank you once?" and Zelensky answered, "A lot of times. Even today."

"Thank you for your personal efforts to stop this war just now, Mr. President." (Volodymyr Zelensky to Trump, New York, 2025, Daily Compilation of Presidential Documents)