Trump Calls Zelenskyy ‘Dictator’; Draw Global Criticism

The escalating war of words between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy took a sharp turn on Wednesday, as Trump called Zelenskyy “a dictator” after the Ukrainian leader accused him of living in a Russian “disinformation bubble.” The exchange, marked by pointed attacks and misinformation, comes at a critical moment for Ukraine, which is fighting to maintain Western support against Russia’s ongoing invasion.

Trump’s Controversial Remarks

Trump’s remarks, posted on Truth Social, contained multiple inaccuracies—including the assertion that Zelenskyy is not an elected leader. “A Dictator without Elections, Zelenskyy better move fast or he is not going to have a Country left,” Trump wrote. He also belittled Zelenskyy’s past as a comedian, claiming he had convinced the U.S. to spend $350 billion on a “War that couldn’t be won, that never had to start.”

Trump also reiterated the claim that Zelenskyy has a mere 4% approval rating—a statement widely dismissed as Russian propaganda. In contrast, a poll released Wednesday by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology showed that 57% of Ukrainians trust their president.

Bipartisan Reactions in the U.S.

Trump’s remarks prompted mixed reactions from U.S. lawmakers. While Vice President JD Vance called Zelenskyy’s comments “disgraceful” and suggested they would have the “opposite effect” on Trump, some Republican senators distanced themselves from Trump’s rhetoric.

“I don’t agree,” said Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) when asked about Trump’s statement. Similarly, Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) dismissed the notion that Ukraine was responsible for the war, stating, “I think Vladimir Putin started the war.”

Ukraine’s Response

Zelenskyy, addressing reporters in Kyiv, dismissed Trump’s attacks and pointed out that Ukraine’s elections are constitutionally postponed due to the ongoing conflict. He also criticized American demands for rare earth minerals in exchange for aid, saying, “that is not a serious conversation.”

On the streets of Kyiv, Ukrainians expressed frustration and concern over Trump’s rhetoric and his apparent overtures to Putin. “I don’t like Trump’s flirting with Putin,” said 49-year-old Fedir Logvynenko. “I don’t quite understand whether it’s from great intelligence or from complete incompetence.”

Another Ukrainian, Yuliya Antonyuk, emphasized the importance of U.S. support. “I want people to stop dying every day. I want to sleep calmly,” she said. “It would be impossible to hold elections now, as there is shelling all the time.”

Starmer Under Pressure

Sir Keir Starmer is facing mounting political pressure to distance himself from Trump’s criticism of Ukraine.

Kemi Badenoch, the UK Conservative leader, rejected Trump’s claims that Zelenskyy is a dictator, writing on X: “Under my leadership, and under successive Conservative prime ministers, we have and always will stand with Ukraine.”

Ben Wallace, the former UK defense secretary, accused Trump of “spouting fake news,” while former foreign secretary James Cleverly said the UK government’s “silence is deafening.”

Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey called on the entire UK political spectrum to “speak with one voice in opposition to Trump’s lies.”

‘Most Shameful Ever by US President’

John Bolton, Trump’s former national security adviser, sharply criticized the former president’s remarks about Zelenskyy.

He wrote on X: “Our support of Ukraine has never been about charity, our way of life at home depends on our strength abroad.” Bolton described Trump’s characterization of Zelenskyy as “one of the most shameful remarks ever made by an American president.”

Diplomatic Ramifications

The latest spat between Trump and Zelenskyy follows high-level U.S.-Russia talks in Saudi Arabia, where Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. The talks alarmed Kyiv and European allies, who insist that any decision on ending the war must involve Ukraine.

Russia, however, appeared buoyed by the shift in U.S. tone. Lavrov, addressing Russian lawmakers, praised Trump as “the first, and so far, apparently, the only Western leader” to acknowledge what he called NATO’s role in provoking the war.

Meanwhile, Mike Waltz, Trump’s national security adviser, has told Fox News that President Emmanuel Macron of France and UK Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer will travel to Washington next week.

During an interview, Waltz stated: “We’re engaging on all sides, and then the next step is we’re going to put technical teams forward to start talking more details.”

Mimi Mefo Info