World enews: ‘Reckless ignorance’: Senators criticised for sharing photos of Zelensky after being asked not to

Two US senators have come under fire for sharing photos of Volodomyr Zelensky on social media after they were reportedly asked not to for the safety of the Ukrainian president.

Democratic Rep Dean Phillips slammed Republican Senators Steve Daines and Marco Rubio for their “appalling and reckless ignorance” after they each posted screen grabs from a Zoom call between Mr Zelensky and a group of US senators on Saturday morning.

The congressman tweeted on Saturday that all lawmakers had specifically been asked not to post anything about the virtual meeting online in order to “protect the security” of the Ukrainian president who is said to have been targeted by multiple Russian assassination plots.

“The Ukrainian Ambassador very intentionally asked each of us on the zoom to NOT share anything on social media during the meeting to protect the security of President Zelenskyy,” he tweeted.

“Appalling and reckless ignorance by two US Senators.”

Mr Rubio, senator for Florida, had posted a screen grab on Twitter of Mr Zelensky to his 4.2m followers, writing: “On zoom call now with President Zelensky of #Ukraine”.

Montana Senator Daines also posted a photo from the meeting on his Twitter, with the caption: “Currently on a zoom call with President Zelenskyy. #StandWithUkraine.”