US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Getty Images
U.S. President Donald Trump has sparked controversy by calling Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky “a dictator.” This remark comes after Zelensky criticized Trump for spreading false claims about Ukraine’s role in the war with Russia.
Trump posted his statement on Truth Social, responding to Zelensky’s comments made earlier in Kyiv. Zelensky dismissed Trump’s accusations and said the former U.S. president was “living in a disinformation space.” He stressed that Ukraine must be involved in any talks to end the war.
Trump has repeatedly suggested that the war should end quickly, even if Ukraine has to give up land to Russia. He has also blamed Ukraine and NATO for the war, repeating Kremlin-backed narratives.
Last week, Trump had a lengthy phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin before even speaking to Zelensky. Shortly after, U.S. and Russian officials held discussions in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, about ending the war. Ukraine was not invited. Putin praised the meeting, saying the U.S. representatives were open to talks without “bias.”
Zelensky was upset about being excluded. He stated that while countries can discuss their own issues, the U.S. engaging directly with Russia only helped Putin. Many Western leaders, including British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, have expressed support for Zelensky.
The Biden administration strongly supported Ukraine by providing military aid worth billions. However, Trump has made it clear that he does not want the U.S. to continue this support unless Ukraine offers something in return. Earlier this month, he even suggested that Ukraine should give up 50% of its rare minerals in exchange for aid. Zelensky firmly rejected the idea, stating, “I cannot sell our state.”
Trump’s False Claims on Ukraine’s War
The tension escalated when Trump falsely claimed that Ukraine started the war with Russia. Speaking at Mar-a-Lago, he criticized Zelensky, saying, “You should’ve ended it after three years. You should’ve never started it.”
In reality, Russia invaded Ukraine in 2014 by illegally annexing Crimea and supporting pro-Russian separatists. In 2022, Russia launched a full-scale invasion, attacking Kyiv and trying to remove Zelensky.
Trump also questioned Zelensky’s legitimacy, falsely stating that Ukraine had not held elections and that his approval rating was only 4%. However, Zelensky was elected in 2019 with 73% of the vote. Elections have been suspended due to martial law, which is common in times of war. A recent poll showed that Zelensky’s approval rating remains above 50%.
Ukraine’s digital minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, pointed out that Zelensky’s approval rating is actually higher than Trump’s.
Trump’s Controversial Past with Ukraine
Trump and Zelensky’s relationship has been strained since Trump’s first term. In 2019, Trump pressured Zelensky to investigate Joe Biden and his son, Hunter. That led to Trump’s first impeachment.
Trump’s latest remarks have angered many Ukrainians. Kyiv residents have expressed frustration, with some saying Trump is unreliable. A local psychologist called him a “narcissist” and said Ukrainians “cannot count on his support.” Others believe Trump does not understand the situation in Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Russia welcomed Trump’s statements. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov praised him for supporting their viewpoint. Lavrov said Trump was the first Western leader to say that NATO’s expansion caused the war. He claimed this was a sign that Trump “understands Russia’s position.”
Analysts believe Russia sees Trump’s stance as a diplomatic victory. Moscow is pleased that Ukraine and the U.S. are no longer closely aligned.
Russia Continues Its Attacks
As these political tensions unfold, Russia continues its military assault on Ukraine. Moscow has intensified attacks on the eastern front, launching drone strikes on multiple Ukrainian cities. Despite this, talks between the U.S. and Russia continued in Riyadh.
Russia argues that NATO expansion threatens its security. However, NATO has always welcomed new members who meet its entry requirements. Ukraine has strengthened ties with NATO since Russia first attacked in 2014.
Putin has repeatedly justified his invasion by falsely claiming that NATO has troops in Ukraine. His government continues to push this narrative, despite no evidence.
