The Trump administration sent mixed signals Friday about its feelings toward Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, just days after the U.S. president and the Ukrainian leader traded barbs.

Trump's envoy to Ukraine and Russia, retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, said he held "extensive and positive discussions" with Zelenskyy about the three-year war with Russia and praised the Ukrainian leader as an "embattled and courageous leader of a nation at war."

Kellogg — who traveled to Kyiv on Wednesday and whose planned news conference with Zelenskyy on Thursday was changed at the last minute to a simple photo opportunity — struck a positive tone after what he said on the social platform X was "a long and intense day" of talks with Ukraine's senior leadership.

But shortly afterward Friday, Trump continued his criticism of Zelenskyy, saying that U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s trip to Kyiv last week to try to secure a deal to access Ukraine’s minerals was “a wasted trip.”

“Frankly I wish he didn’t go there, waste all of his time like that,” Trump said on an interview on “The Brian Kilmeade Show” on Fox Radio.

The U.S. proposed that Ukraine grant it access to its rare earth minerals “as compensation” for support already given to Kyiv by the Biden administration and as payment for future aid, but the Trump administration did not offer any specific security guarantees in return, according to Ukrainian officials.

Trump started to criticize Zelenskyy for his leadership as his country was destroyed by war. After host Brian Kilmeade said, “That’s Putin’s fault,” Trump responded by saying, “I get tired of listening to it.”

Trump continued complaining about Zelenskyy and said he “doesn’t think he’s very important to be at meetings” and that he’s been negotiating “with no cards, and you get sick of it.”

He said Putin wants to make a deal and added, “He doesn’t have to make a deal. Because if he wanted, he would get the whole country.”

The public quarrel between Trump and Zelenskyy began after Russia and the U.S. agreed Tuesday to start working toward ending the war in Ukraine and improving their diplomatic and economic ties. With that, and a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trump abruptly reversed the three-year U.S. policy of isolating Russia.

On Wednesday, Trump called Zelenskyy "a dictator without elections" and warned him that he'd " better move fast " to negotiate an end to the war or risk not having a nation to lead. Earlier that same day, Zelenskyy accused Trump of living in a Russian-made “disinformation space.”

Trump did not directly answer when asked by reporters in the Oval Office on Friday whether he also considered Putin a dictator, saying instead that the Russian and Ukrainian leaders need to “get together” to work out an end to the fighting. He then went on to reiterate comments he has made repeatedly when asked about the conflict, including touching on the number of people being killed and the amount of money the U.S. has put into the conflict.

Trump also shot down reports from French media that he was planning to travel to Moscow to meet with Putin. Earlier this week, Trump told reporters he may meet with his Russian counterpart in Saudi Arabia soon.

Trump’s National Security Advisor Mike Waltz also did not answer when asked if the administration considers Putin a dictator during Thursday’s White House press briefing.

The possibility that vital U.S. military aid for Ukraine was in doubt darkened the mood in Kyiv as Ukrainian forces struggle to hold back Russia's bigger army on the battlefield.

European governments, uneasy about being sidelined so far in talks between senior U.S. and Russian officials, have jumped to shore up Zelenskyy and at the same time avoid a breakdown in transatlantic relations.

Polish President Andrzej Duda, whose country has been a vocal supporter of neighboring Ukraine, said Zelenskyy phoned him on Friday. Duda said he told Zelenskyy "to remain committed to the course of calm and constructive cooperation" with Trump.

"We consistently believe there is no other way to stop the bloodshed and achieve lasting peace in Ukraine except with the support of the United States," Duda said he also told Zelenskyy.

"I trust that goodwill and honesty form the foundation of the U.S. negotiation strategy," Duda said on X. "I have no doubt that President Trump is guided by a deep sense of responsibility for global stability and peace."

The European Union's top defense official said Friday that the bloc plans to send a strong message of support to Ukraine next week with a new aid package to mark Monday's third anniversary of the war.

Russia has pressed on with its invasion even as talks with the U.S. take place, striking civilian targets almost daily.

On Friday, Russian forces dropped three powerful glide bombs on Kostiantynivka, in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region, killing one man and injuring two others, regional Gov. Vadym Filashkin said.

Another Russian glide bomb damaged homes and injured five people in the northeastern Kharkiv region, Ukraine's Interior Ministry said.