U.S. President Donald Trump has intensified his criticism of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, calling him a “dictator” during a speech at a Saudi-backed investment meeting in Florida. The remarks have deepened the growing rift between the two leaders and drawn condemnation from European officials.
Trump’s comments came in response to Zelensky’s assertion that the U.S. president was “living in a disinformation space” influenced by Moscow. The Ukrainian leader had expressed frustration over being excluded from recent U.S.-Russia talks in Saudi Arabia, questioning Washington’s commitment to Kyiv.
During his speech, Trump accused Zelensky of manipulating President Joe Biden and claimed that the Ukrainian leader had refused to hold elections, despite Ukraine being under martial law since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. Trump also alleged that Zelensky’s government had reneged on a deal regarding Ukraine’s rare-earth minerals, though no official agreement has been confirmed.
The “dictator” remark triggered swift backlash from European leaders. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz dismissed the claim, stating it was “wrong and dangerous to deny President Zelensky his democratic legitimacy.” UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer reaffirmed his support for Zelensky in a call, emphasizing that Ukraine’s suspension of elections was a wartime necessity, akin to what the UK had done during World War II. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock also condemned Trump’s statements, with Baerbock calling them “absurd.”
Despite the controversy, Trump doubled down on his remarks on his Truth Social platform, blaming Ukraine for the ongoing war. He claimed Zelensky was “low in the real Ukrainian polls,” though independent polling contradicts this, showing 57% of Ukrainians trust their president.
The fallout from Trump’s comments was welcomed in Moscow. Former Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk remarked that “Russia is popping champagne” over the deepening U.S.-Ukraine tensions. Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed openness to meeting Trump, adding further geopolitical intrigue.
Amidst the escalating war of words, the European Union announced new sanctions targeting Russian aluminum, oil transport vessels, and additional banks, reinforcing its commitment to pressuring Moscow. While Trump insists the war is Europe’s problem, European leaders are strengthening their support for Ukraine, highlighting the growing divide in transatlantic perspectives on the conflict.
Zelensky, undeterred by the criticisms, reaffirmed Ukraine’s resistance against Russian aggression and rejected Trump’s demands for rare mineral access, stating no security guarantees were offered in return. As the global debate over Ukraine’s future intensifies, the political battle between Trump and Zelensky appears far from over.
