US President Donald Trump escalated his criticism of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, calling him a “dictator” and accusing him of mishandling the war with Russia in a series of sharp remarks on Wednesday.
“A Dictator without Elections, Zelenskyy better move fast or he is not going to have a Country left,” Trump posted.
“A modestly successful comedian, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, talked the United States of America into spending $350 Billion Dollars, to go into a War that couldn’t be won,” Trump wrote. He went on to accuse Zelensky of corruption, stating that the Ukrainian president admitted to misplacing half of the aid money and suggested that he was more interested in prolonging the war than in seeking peace.
Trump’s critique comes amid a shift in U.S. foreign policy since President Joe Biden took office, with Trump signaling a preference for engaging with Russia and questioning the continued U.S. involvement in Ukraine. Trump accused Zelensky, who was elected in 2019, of failing to hold elections.
Trump’s harsh rhetoric follows a press conference on Tuesday where he also criticized Zelensky, and further emphasized his belief that only he could successfully negotiate an end to the war.
Zelensky, on the other hand, accused Trump of falling victim to Russian “disinformation.” The Ukrainian leader rejected Trump’s claims, and questioned the legitimacy of Trump’s remarks.
