U.S. President Donald Trump slammed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday, labeling him a “dictator” and warning that he must act fast to secure peace or risk losing his country. The sharp remarks, following Trump’s earlier claim that Ukraine was responsible for Russia’s invasion, have unsettled European allies.
Just weeks into his presidency, Trump has upended U.S. policy on the war, shifting away from isolating Russia. A Trump-Putin call and high-level U.S.-Russia talks have sidelined Ukraine, raising concerns that Washington’s approach could favor Moscow.
“A dictator without elections, Zelenskyy better move fast or he won’t have a country left,” Trump wrote on social media.
Ukraine fired back. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha vowed that Kyiv won’t surrender, declaring, “We will defend our right to exist.”
Under martial law since Russia’s 2022 invasion, Ukraine has postponed elections, though Zelenskyy remains in office. He dismissed Trump’s claim that his approval rating was just 4% as Russian disinformation, citing a February poll showing 57% of Ukrainians trust him.
Meanwhile, Vice President JD Vance warned Zelenskyy against criticizing Trump publicly, saying it would only hurt U.S.-Ukraine relations.
As Russia continues gaining ground, the stakes are rising. While Moscow insists its invasion was a defensive move against NATO expansion, Kyiv and the West call it a blatant land grab.
Trump’s comments sparked global reactions. A U.N. spokesperson affirmed that Zelenskyy was democratically elected, while German Chancellor Olaf Scholz condemned Trump’s remarks as “false and dangerous.”
