The President of the United States, Donald Trump, has intensified his conflict with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, labeling the Ukrainian president a “dictator without elections”.
In an extensive and cutting post on his social media platform Truth Social on Wednesday, Trump accused Zelenskyy of taking U.S. funds and entangling the country in an unending war.
“Consider this, a moderately successful comedian, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, persuaded the United States of America to spend $350 Billion Dollars on a war that was unwinnable and never needed to commence,” stated Trump, a former reality television figure.
Trump further implied that Zelenskyy had hidden motives for wanting Ukraine to persist in its territorial struggle.
“Zelenskyy likely wants to keep the ‘gravy train’ running,” Trump remarked, using an expression that indicates Ukraine is benefitting from U.S. financial support.
This post represented Trump’s most cutting commentary towards the Ukrainian president, who has been a U.S. ally during the ongoing effort to resist a large-scale Russian invasion that started in February 2022.
In contrast, Trump’s general attitude appears to be increasingly antagonistic towards Zelenskyy, as he and his administration appear to align more closely with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
European allies have reacted with outrage to Trump’s latest comments, arguing that his remarks are harmful to the peace process.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, for example, forcefully rebutted the claim that Zelenskyy is a “dictator” for not holding elections during wartime.
“Denying President Zelenskyy democratic legitimacy is simply incorrect and risky,” Scholz told the newspaper Spiegel shortly after Trump’s post.
“Volodymyr Zelenskyy is the legitimate, elected leader of Ukraine. The inability to conduct proper elections in wartime aligns with the Ukrainian constitution and electoral laws. No one should assert otherwise.”
Increasing Hostility
The war in Ukraine is approaching its third anniversary on February 24, with no resolution in sight.
However, upon his inauguration on January 20, Trump vowed to be a “peacemaker and unifier,” suggesting he could swiftly resolve global conflicts.
On February 12, he unexpectedly announced on social media that he had just finished a “lengthy and highly productive phone call” with President Putin and had agreed to “initiate negotiations immediately” to conclude the war in Ukraine.
This announcement followed a prisoner exchange between the US and Russia, initially prompting Zelenskyy to express hope regarding the talks.
However, the atmosphere soured within hours, as Zelenskyy and his European allies accused the U.S. of excluding them from the peace discussions entirely.
This week, U.S. officials traveled to Saudi Arabia for initial high-level discussions with Russian officials since Russia’s large-scale invasion began. No Ukrainian or European delegates participated in the talks.
Plans for Trump and Putin to visit each other’s nations have also been confirmed for the upcoming months.
Meanwhile, Trump and his administration have been pressuring Ukraine to make compromises.
For instance, last week, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told a gathering of European allies that it is an “illusionary goal” for Ukraine to reclaim all of its territory dating back to 2014 when Russia annexed Crimea.
“We will only conclude this devastating war and achieve lasting peace by combining allied strength with a realistic evaluation of the battlefield,” Hegseth expressed.
“We desire, as you do, a sovereign and thriving Ukraine. However, we must begin acknowledging that returning to Ukraine’s pre-2014 borders is an unrealistic aim.”
Trump echoed these sentiments as well, accusing Zelenskyy on Tuesday of having instigated the invasion himself.
“You should have never started it. You could have brokered a deal. I could have brokered a deal for Ukraine,” Trump stated during remarks at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.
He further claimed that Zelenskyy has only himself to blame for his exclusion from the peace negotiations.
“Today, I heard, ‘Oh, well, we weren’t invited.’ Well, you’ve been there for three years. You should have concluded it,” Trump remarked.
Russia has long claimed that its full-scale invasion of Ukraine was necessary to safeguard civilians and prevent Ukraine from joining NATO.
Putin and his associates have referenced a Cold War-era declaration by a U.S. official professing that NATO would not expand “one inch” to the east, although no such policy was ever formalized.
Conversely, Ukraine and its European allies have condemned the invasion as an unwarranted act of aggression, one that underscores Putin’s imperial aspirations in Eastern Europe.
Following Trump’s recent post on social media, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock articulated that the true dictatorship exists in Russia.
“If you take a look at the real world instead of just firing off a tweet, you clearly see who in Europe lives under dictatorial conditions,” she stated.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha also replied to Trump’s comments, stating on social media: “No one can compel Ukraine to surrender. We will defend our right to exist.”
Even domestic critics reacted with shock to Trump’s latest social media outburst. Senator Chris Van Hollen from Maryland shifted from a conversation about the forthcoming U.S. budget to address Trump’s claims against Zelenskyy.
“Mr. President, this is a disgraceful moment for the United States,” Van Hollen declared. “We have championed freedom, democracy, and the rule of law, and now President Trump is throwing Ukraine and freedom-loving people worldwide under the bus.”
Al Jazeera correspondent Kimberly Halkett characterized Trump’s recent comments on Zelenskyy as an example of his “classic bullying” behavior.
“He is seeking to undermine the Ukrainian leader by referencing his prior career: that he was a comedian before he assumed leadership in Ukraine,” she commented.
While under President Joe Biden’s administration, the U.S. firmly supported Ukraine, supplying the war-ravaged nation with billions in military aid and assistance.
However, Halkett cautioned that Trump’s recent statements indicate a “stunning reversal” of U.S. policy.
“The Biden administration previously worked to isolate Russia,” she noted. “Now, the Trump administration is doing the exact opposite.”
In his post on Tuesday, Trump accused Zelenskyy of manipulating Biden “like a fiddle,” positioning himself as uniquely capable of achieving peace for Ukraine.
“We are successfully negotiating an end to the war with Russia, something all admit only ‘TRUMP,’ and the Trump administration, can accomplish,” Trump declared.
He also issued a foreboding warning to his Ukrainian counterpart: “A Dictator without Elections, Zelenskyy better act quickly, or he may not have a country left.”
Zelenskyy has cautioned that it would be “extremely challenging” for Ukraine to survive Russia’s ongoing aggression without U.S. support and has called for a united front between the U.S. and Europe against the hostilities.
In his own social media post on Tuesday, Zelenskyy reiterated his stance that Putin cannot be trusted and urged Europe and the U.S. to collaborate in seeking a resolution to the conflict.
“We cannot allow Putin to deceive everyone again,” Zelenskyy urged. “Prior to any potential negotiations, all partners must clearly recognize that strong security guarantees are essential for lasting peace.”
He confirmed that U.S. envoy Keith Kellogg had arrived in Kyiv for further discussions on Thursday.
