President Donald Trump escalated his criticism of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, questioning his legitimacy and calling him an “unelected dictator.”

“Think about it—an unsuccessful comedian, Volodymyr Zelensky, convinced the U.S. to send $350 billion in aid for a war that cannot be won and should never have started,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on February 19.

Reiterating his stance that Zelensky could not handle the war with Russia without U.S. assistance, Trump warned that Ukraine’s leader must act quickly or risk losing his country altogether.

“The unelected dictator Zelensky better move fast, or he won’t have a country left,” Trump wrote. “He refused to hold elections, has extremely low approval ratings in Ukraine, and the only thing he’s good at is manipulating Joe Biden.”

Trump also criticized the disproportionate financial burden on the U.S., claiming that America has provided $200 billion more in aid to Ukraine than Europe has, despite the war being “more important to Europe than to the U.S.,” as the U.S. is “separated by a beautiful ocean.”

“Meanwhile, we are successfully negotiating to end the war with Russia—something everyone admits only Trump and his administration can achieve,” he added.
Trump Challenges Zelensky’s Legitimacy

Trump’s remarks came a day after he blasted Ukraine for complaining about being excluded from discussions on the conflict in Saudi Arabia. He even suggested that Ukraine, not Russia, was responsible for starting the war, a claim that Moscow welcomed.

The U.S. president also questioned Zelensky’s legitimacy, arguing that Ukraine has not held a presidential election since the war began and that Zelensky’s approval rating is now “just 4%” while the country is “in ruins.”

This marks the first time a sitting U.S. president has referred to Zelensky as a “dictator,” highlighting the growing strain in U.S.-Ukraine relations since Trump took office.

Russia has long challenged Zelensky’s legal authority, arguing that his term ended in May 2024, and Ukraine has not held a presidential election since then.

However, Kyiv insists Zelensky remains the country’s legitimate leader, as martial law, imposed since February 2022, prevents elections from being held during wartime.
Zelensky Pushes Back on Trump’s Claims

During a February 19 press conference in Kyiv, Zelensky dismissed Trump’s claim that his approval rating is only 4%, suggesting the U.S. president was relying on Russian disinformation.

“When we hear the number 4%, we immediately recognize this as false information from Russia. President Trump is surrounded by a bubble of disinformation,” Zelensky said.

A recent phone survey of 1,000 Ukrainians, conducted by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) and published on February 19, found that 57% of respondents trust Zelensky, while 37% do not, and the rest remain undecided.

Despite this, Trump continued his attacks on Zelensky, writing:

“I love Ukraine, but Zelensky has done a terrible job. His country is in ruins, and millions of people have died unnecessarily.”
Ukraine’s Response: ‘We Will Defend Our Right to Exist’

In response, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha rejected Trump’s rhetoric, vowing that Ukraine would not be forced into submission.

“We will defend our right to exist,” Sybiha posted on X (formerly Twitter).

Zelensky has not yet directly commented on Trump’s latest remarks.
Trump’s Diplomatic Moves Exclude Ukraine

As Trump ramps up diplomatic efforts with Russia, he has not invited Zelensky or any Ukrainian representatives to participate in peace talks.

Zelensky has repeatedly stated that Kyiv will not accept any negotiations on Ukraine’s future without Ukraine’s direct involvement.

With Trump actively pursuing a settlement with Moscow, the latest rift between Washington and Kyiv underscores the uncertainty surrounding U.S. policy on Ukraine’s war effort moving forward.

(Sources: AFP, Reuters)

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