Donald Trump has launched a scathing attack on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, calling him a "dictator without elections" and accusing him of playing Joe Biden "like a fiddle." This came after Zelensky criticized the U.S. president for living in a "disinformation space."
Trump claimed that Zelensky is a "dictator without elections" and that he is very low in Ukrainian polls. He also accused Zelensky of refusing to hold elections and suggested that the war was avoidable.
The U.S. president wrote on social media Wednesday, "Think of it, a modestly successful comedian, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, talked the United States of America into spending $350 Billion Dollars, to go into a War that couldn’t be won, that never had to start, but a War that he, without the U.S. and “TRUMP,” will never be able to settle. The United States has spent $200 Billion Dollars more than Europe, and Europe’s money is guaranteed, while the United States will get nothing back. Why didn’t Sleepy Joe Biden demand Equalization, in that this War is far more important to Europe than it is to us — We have a big, beautiful Ocean as separation. On top of this, Zelenskyy admits that half of the money we sent him is “MISSING.” He refuses to have Elections, is very low in Ukrainian Polls, and the only thing he was good at was playing Biden “like a fiddle.” A Dictator without Elections, Zelenskyy better move fast or he is not going to have a Country left. In the meantime, we are successfully negotiating an end to the War with Russia, something all admit only “TRUMP,” and the Trump Administration, can do. Biden never tried, Europe has failed to bring Peace, and Zelenskyy probably wants to keep the “gravy train” going. I love Ukraine, but Zelenskyy has done a terrible job, his Country is shattered, and MILLIONS have unnecessarily died – And so it continues…"
Zelensky had criticized Trump earlier Wednesday in comments to reporters in Kyiv after canceling a trip to Saudi Arabia, where Secretary of State Marco Rubio, White House national security advisor Mike Waltz and Special Envoy Ambassador Steve Witkoff held talks with Russian counterparts earlier this week centered on negotiating an end to the three-year conflict with Ukraine.
"Unfortunately, President Trump — I have great respect for him as a leader of a nation that we have great respect for, the American people who always support us—– unfortunately lives in this disinformation space," Zelenskyy said. He also disputes the US president's claim that his approval rating low claiming that it is actually around 58%.
Vice President JD Vance echoed Trump's criticism, telling the Daily Mail, "The idea that Zelensky is going to change the president's mind by badmouthing him in public media, everyone who knows the President will tell you that is an atrocious way to deal with this administration."
Vladimir Putin has applauded Trump's comments, and praised the U.S.-Russia talks in Riyadh as a "friendly" step forward, noting a shift in the American stance under Trump compared to the Joe Biden administration.
The Russian president expressed willingness to meet Trump "with pleasure" to discuss ending the war and other bilateral issues, though he said preparations were needed to build trust between Moscow and Washington.
Putin claimed Ukraine would not be excluded from future negotiations, contrasting with Zelensky’s criticism that the U.S. engaging Russia directly helped the Russian president "break out of isolation."
Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev also praised Trump's comments in a post on X, calling Zelensky a "bankrupt clown" and supporting Trump's stance.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on his part, reiterated his support for Zelensky, emphasizing that suspending elections during wartime is reasonable and that the UK remains committed to supporting Ukraine.
Nearly one year past the expiration of Zelenskyy's first five-year term, the U.S. and Russia are in agreement that Ukrainians must go to the polls and decide whether to keep their head of state.
Zelensky’s term in office was supposed to end last May, with elections originally slated for April 2024. But the president's aides have said elections will not be held until six months after the end of martial law in the country.
Russia has insisted it will not sign a peace agreement until Ukraine agrees to hold elections, and the U.S. is now "floating" the idea of a three-stage plan: ceasefire, then Ukrainian elections, then inking of a peace deal.
Talks between the US and Russia in Saudi Arabia have reportedly established a plan to end the war, but Zelensky was not informed or invited to these discussions.
Trump envoy Keith Kellog, a retired three-star general, arrived in Kyiv to hold talks with Zelenskyy on Wednesday. Ukrainian officials have emphasized that any peace deal will require U.S. security guarantees in order to ensure Russia does not invade again.
"We understand the need for security guarantees," Kellog told Ukrainian media. "It’s very clear to us the importance of the sovereignty of this nation and the independence of this nation as well... Part of my mission is to sit and listen."
State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce released a statement after Rubio met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Riyadh on Tuesday.
"President Trump wants to stop the killing; the United States wants peace and is using its strength in the world to bring countries together. President Trump is the only leader in the world who can get Ukraine and Russia to agree to that," she said.
