The lifting of US sanctions against Russia by Donald Trump has had a noticeable effect on international relations, specifically allowing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj to openly express his contempt for Trump. Previously, Zelenskyj had to conceal his negative feelings towards the former US President. This shift in dynamic comes after a period where Trump was perceived as being overly accommodating to Russian President Putin. The decision to remove the sanctions is viewed by some as a benefit to Putin. Zelenskyj’s now-uninhibited disapproval marks a change in the public perception of the relationship between Ukraine and the US, highlighted by the events unfolding in New York. The move signals a potentially more direct approach from Kyiv regarding criticism of American political figures.