Former President Donald Trump has labeled his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy a ‘dictator’ as tensions between them escalate over Ukraine peace negotiations.
Trump’s recent attack on Zelenskyy emerged after the Ukrainian leader disputed Trump’s assertion that Ukraine had instigated the conflict. Zelenskyy also expressed discontent at being excluded from the Russia-US peace discussions that took place in Riyadh on Tuesday.
In a social media post on Wednesday, along with a speech delivered in Miami that same day, Trump launched sharp criticisms at Zelenskyy, accusing him of misusing US aid and leading the country into a prolonged conflict.
Below is an overview of the exchange between Trump and Zelenskyy and its potential implications for the Ukraine peace negotiations:
What did Trump say about Zelenskyy?
In a post shared on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump remarked that Zelenskyy, described as a “moderately successful comedian,” has “convinced the United States of America to commit $350 billion to a war that couldn’t be won and never needed to start.”
Addressing the financial support provided to Ukraine, Trump noted, “The United States has invested $200 billion more than Europe.”
He continued, stating that Zelenskyy “refuses to hold elections, has poor ratings in Ukrainian polls, and his only talent is manipulating Biden.” Trump branded Zelenskyy as “A Dictator without Elections” and criticized his leadership as “terrible.”
“Meanwhile, we are successfully negotiating a conclusion to the war with Russia—a feat that only ‘TRUMP’ and his administration can achieve. Biden has made no effort, Europe has failed to provide peace, and Zelenskyy likely wishes to maintain the ‘gravy train’,” Trump added.
On Wednesday, during the Saudi-backed Future Investment Initiative (FII) summit in Miami, Trump expressed gratitude to Saudi Arabia for facilitating discussions regarding Ukraine, which included US and Russian officials.
This past Tuesday marked the first in-person discussions between US and Russian diplomats since the onset of Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine three years ago. After four hours of dialogue, both parties agreed to assemble a team focused on resolving the war—the deadliest conflict in Europe since World War II. They also consented to restore diplomatic relations, which had reached a historic low following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Why is Trump saying this and what else has he said?
Trump’s remarks followed Zelenskyy’s assertion that Trump has been operating within a “Russian-made disinformation space” regarding the Ukrainian conflict.
“Donald Trump is reacting this way because he is notoriously sensitive and is displeased with Zelenskyy’s earlier comments,” stated Al Jazeera’s White House correspondent, Kimberly Halkett.
On Tuesday, Trump accused Ukraine of instigating the war, commenting: “Today I heard, ‘Oh, we weren’t invited.’ Well, you’ve been there for three years; you ought to have ended it… You should never have started it. A deal could have been made.”
He further insisted that Ukraine should hold elections, asserting, without evidence, that Zelenskyy’s approval rating is merely 4 percent.
Zelenskyy’s pushback, some analysts suggest, was prompted by Trump reiterating Russian narratives concerning the Ukraine war and excluding Kyiv from the Riyadh discussions.
The verbal conflict between Trump and Zelenskyy has intensified recently amid Ukraine peace negotiations, although tensions have been simmering for years.
During Trump’s first term in September 2019, he pressured Zelenskyy to collaborate with US attorney Rudy Giuliani in investigating political opponent Democrat Joe Biden and his son, Hunter Biden. Trump alleged that Biden attempted to influence a Ukrainian prosecutor concerning his son. The allegations arose when Hunter was purported to have accepted bribes from a Kyiv-based firm, Burisma. Hunter pleaded guilty in a tax evasion case but was pardoned by Biden months later in December 2024.
Despite his campaign criticisms of Zelenskyy, Trump met him in person at Trump Tower in New York months before the election to discuss potential resolutions to the conflict.
What has Zelenskyy said?
In response, Zelenskyy claimed, “We have evidence that these figures are being discussed between America and Russia. Unfortunately, President Trump… lives in this disinformation space,” during an interview with Ukrainian television on Tuesday amid Trump’s commentary on his approval ratings.
The exchange of barbs escalated further after Trump’s recent conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, wherein he agreed to engage in talks with Moscow sans Kyiv and Europe.
A frustrated Zelenskyy emphasized the necessity for Ukraine, alongside European nations, to have representation at the peace negotiations.
Trump’s overtures to Putin have alarmed European leaders who regard the Russian leader as untrustworthy. They fear a peace agreement involving Ukraine without their input could expose Europe to increased Russian aggression.
On Wednesday, Zelenskyy accused the Trump administration of reestablishing diplomatic engagement with Moscow. He stated such actions were not beneficial for Ukraine, as it allowed Russia to emerge from isolation and shifted the focus of discussions towards them.
Are Trump’s claims true?
Zelenskyy’s term was scheduled to end in May 2024, but elections have been placed on hold following the declaration of martial law due to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The aid figures mentioned by Trump are inconsistent with data compiled by research organizations.
As of December 2024, European countries had provided approximately $138 billion to Ukraine, while the US contributed around $120 billion, as per the Kiel Institute for the World Economy.
Regarding Zelenskyy’s approval ratings, a survey from the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) conducted at the end of 2024 revealed that 52% of Ukrainians expressed trust in him.
Trump’s assertion about Ukraine starting the war is also false. Russia initiated military action in Ukraine under the guise of a “special military operation” and has since seized nearly 20% of Ukrainian land.
What are the diplomatic implications?
Zelenskyy is scheduled to meet Trump’s special envoy for the Ukraine-Russia conflict, Keith Kellogg, on Thursday in Kyiv.
Ukraine has been pursuing security assurances from its Western allies to safeguard against Russian aggression should a peace agreement materialize. Kellogg, who arrived in Kyiv on Wednesday, acknowledged, “We recognize the need for security guarantees.”
The potential impact of the public discord between Zelenskyy and Trump on the peace negotiations is uncertain given the unpredictable nature of the US president’s actions.
However, a change in US policy regarding Ukraine under Trump could have ramifications on transatlantic relations, leading European leaders to scramble for responses.
What have been the reactions?
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz criticized Trump’s remarks in an interview with the Spiegel newspaper, stating, “It is simply incorrect and dangerous to deny President Zelenskyy democratic legitimacy.”
“Volodymyr Zelenskyy is the democratically elected leader of Ukraine. The inability to conduct elections during wartime is consistent with the stipulations of Ukrainian constitutional and electoral law. No one should state otherwise,” he continued.
United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer reached out to Zelenskyy on Wednesday to reaffirm his support for the Ukrainian leader, as reported by a Downing Street spokesperson to the BBC.
The spokesperson noted that it is “completely reasonable to suspend elections during wartime, as the UK did during World War II.”
