Trump falsely calls Ukraine’s Zelenskyy a ‘dictator,’ escalating a spat between the leaders

Trump’s statement contained multiple inaccuracies and followed the government’s efforts to enhance its relationship with Russia through significant discussions.

On Wednesday, President Donald Trump labeled Volodymyr Zelenskyy as “a dictator” after Zelenskyy accused him of being ensnared in a Russian “disinformation bubble.” This exchange between the two leaders intensified rapidly.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump made several erroneous claims, including the assertion that Zelenskyy is not an elected president. This occurred after the U.S. government sought to strengthen its ties with Russia by exploring avenues to conclude the war in Ukraine.

This dispute arises at a critical juncture for Ukraine, which is striving to secure support from Western nations to combat Russian forces that have occupied over 20% of its territory and frequently assault its cities and infrastructure.

Trump further characterized Zelenskyy as a “modestly successful comedian” who persuaded the U.S. to allocate $350 billion to a conflict he deems unnecessary and unwinnable. He remarked that without the U.S. and “TRUMP,” Zelenskyy would face significant challenges in resolving the conflict.

Trump cautioned, “A Dictator without Elections, Zelenskyy better move fast or he is not going to have a Country left.”

Vice President JD Vance on Wednesday condemned Zelensky’s remarks as “disgraceful.”

“He is attacking the only reason this country exists, publicly, right now,” Vance stated in an interview with The National Pulse. “And it’s disgraceful. And it’s not something that is going to move the President of the United States. In fact, it’s going to have the opposite effect.”

Several Republican senators expressed their disagreement with Trump’s comments regarding Zelensky on Wednesday.
On Wednesday, President Zelenskyy conveyed via X that he had engaged in a dialogue with Senator Lindsey Graham from South Carolina, whom he characterized as “constructive” and committed to fostering peace. He underscored the necessity of security guarantees that genuinely serve Ukraine’s interests in the pursuit of enduring peace. Both leaders had participated in a panel discussion at the Munich Security Conference the previous week.

Zelenskyy, who gained prominence as an actor and comedian prior to his presidency, addressed the substantial U.S. support for Ukraine, which encompasses $67 billion in military aid and an additional $31.5 billion in various forms of assistance. He criticized the American expectation for Ukraine to relinquish over $500 billion in rare earth minerals, labeling it as “not a serious conversation” and asserting that he cannot compromise the integrity of his nation.

Zelenskyy’s emphatic statements regarding his refusal to allow “anyone making decisions behind our backs” were a direct response to Trump’s assertion that Ukraine bore responsibility for Russia’s invasion.

In a Fox News interview, White House national security adviser Mike Waltz defended Trump, arguing that he should not face criticism for pursuing a diplomatic resolution. He questioned why President Zelenskyy had not taken steps to conclude the war for Ukraine’s benefit and inquired about the current status of Ukraine’s military situation.

Waltz also highlighted the unusual backlash and intensified rhetoric surrounding the Trump administration’s initiative to invest in Ukrainian infrastructure and rare minerals.

In Kyiv, ordinary citizens expressed their support for Zelenskyy while anxiously observing the increasing rapport between Trump and Putin.

“I am quite uncomfortable with how Trump is becoming friendly with Putin,” remarked 49-year-old Fedir Logvynenko. “I cannot discern whether he is being astute or simply oblivious.”

He noted his agreement with Zelenskyy’s position on rejecting any agreements concerning Ukraine that do not involve Ukrainian participation, and he also criticized the actions of Ukraine’s European allies.

Yuliya Antonyuk, a 42-year-old real estate agent, stated that Ukrainians “cannot do without American weaponry.”
There is a pressing desire for an end to the daily loss of life, as expressed by a concerned individual who longs for the ability to rest peacefully. She emphasized the current impossibility of conducting presidential elections in the country due to the ongoing shelling.

On Tuesday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio engaged in discussions with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Saudi Arabia, raising concerns among Ukrainians and their European allies. They believe that any resolution to the conflict must involve their participation.

Former President Trump asserted that the United States is “successfully negotiating an end to the War with Russia” and implied that President Zelenskyy may wish to maintain the flow of support from the West.

Trump also claimed that Zelenskyy had a mere 4% approval rating; however, a recent survey conducted by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology revealed that 57% of Ukrainians actually express trust in him.

In response to the 4% figure, Zelenskyy stated during a news conference in Kyiv on Wednesday that it is merely disinformation propagated by Russia.

Earlier this month, a poll from the Pew Research Center indicated that 47% of Americans somewhat approve of Trump’s performance.

The meeting between Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Secretary of State Marco Rubio took place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday.

Zelenskyy asserted that any attempts to oust him during the ongoing war would be futile. He addressed Trump’s remarks regarding Ukrainian elections, particularly in light of Putin’s assertion that Zelenskyy is not the legitimate leader of Ukraine. Zelenskyy contended that the majority of Ukrainians would reject any capitulation to Russia.

Trump also remarked that “MILLIONS have unnecessarily died” as a result of the conflict.

The exact number of casualties remains uncertain, as both Russia and Ukraine refrain from disclosing figures; however, credible estimates suggest that the death toll is likely under 1 million.

Trump echoed some of Putin’s criticisms, despite the latter’s long-standing leadership in Russia, which has been characterized by elections widely regarded as unfair. Putin has frequently questioned Zelenskyy’s legitimacy as Ukraine’s leader.
The desire for an end to daily loss of life was expressed by her, who stated, “I wish for people to stop dying every day. I long for the ability to sleep peacefully.” She further remarked that conducting presidential elections in the current climate of relentless shelling would be “impossible.”

On Tuesday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio held discussions with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Saudi Arabia, raising concerns among Ukrainians and their European allies. They believe that any resolution to the conflict must involve their participation.

Former President Trump asserted that the United States is “successfully negotiating an end to the War with Russia” and implied that “Zelenskyy likely wishes to maintain the flow of support.”

Trump also claimed that Zelenskyy had a mere 4% approval rating; however, a recent survey conducted by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology revealed that 57% of Ukrainians actually express trust in him.

In response to the 4% figure, Zelenskyy stated during a news conference in Kyiv on Wednesday, “We recognize that this is merely disinformation propagated by Russia.”

Earlier this month, a poll from the Pew Research Center indicated that 47% of Americans somewhat approve of Trump’s performance.

The meeting between Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Secretary of State Marco Rubio took place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday.

Zelenskyy emphasized that any attempts to oust him during the ongoing war would be futile. He addressed Trump’s remarks regarding Ukrainian elections, particularly in light of Putin’s assertion that Zelenskyy is not the legitimate leader of Ukraine. Zelenskyy contended that the majority of Ukrainians would reject any capitulation to Russia.

Trump also remarked that “MILLIONS have unnecessarily died” as a result of the conflict.

The exact number of casualties remains unknown, as both Russia and Ukraine refrain from disclosing figures; however, credible estimates suggest that the death toll is likely under 1 million.
Trump echoed some of Putin’s criticisms, who has governed Russia for nearly 25 years through elections widely regarded as unfair. Putin has frequently questioned the legitimacy of Zelenskyy’s leadership in Ukraine.

Ukraine’s last presidential election occurred in 2019, with another scheduled for April; however, Zelenskyy indicated that conducting elections during wartime poses safety concerns, a notion supported by the country’s constitution.

During a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago resort on Tuesday evening, Trump asserted that he could bring an end to the conflict in Ukraine. He remarked, “But today I heard, ‘Oh, well, we weren’t invited.’ Well, you’ve been there for three years.” He further stated, “You should have never started it.”

In Moscow, the reaction to the change in U.S. foreign policy has been largely favorable. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov addressed lawmakers on Wednesday, refraining from directly commenting on Trump’s statements but suggesting that the Kremlin welcomed the dialogue.

Lavrov emphasized that the U.S. president is “the first, and so far, apparently, the only Western leader who has publicly and loudly said that one of the root causes of the Ukrainian situation was the brazen path of the previous administration to draw Ukraine into NATO.” He added, “No Western leader has ever said this.” Lavrov concluded by asserting that this indicates the president’s understanding of Russia’s perspective.