U.S. President Donald Trump escalated tensions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday, labeling him a “dictator” and cautioning that Ukraine must act swiftly to secure peace or risk losing its sovereignty.
Trump’s remarks have intensified concerns among European leaders already unsettled by the growing discord between the two leaders.
Trump’s latest comments follow his earlier claim that Ukraine itself was responsible for Russia’s 2022 invasion. These statements have fueled worries among U.S. allies in Europe, who fear Trump’s stance on the conflict could ultimately work in Moscow’s favor.
Since taking office less than a month ago, Trump has dramatically shifted U.S. policy on the war. His administration has moved away from efforts to isolate Russia, instead prioritizing direct communication with Moscow.
A recent phone call between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, along with high-level discussions between American and Russian officials, has significantly reduced Ukraine’s influence in diplomatic talks.
“A Dictator without Elections, Zelenskyy better move fast or he is not going to have a Country left,” Trump wrote on social media, using an alternate spelling for the Ukrainian president’s name.
In response, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said no one could force his country to give in.
“We will defend our right to exist,” Sybiha said on X.
Later in the day, while addressing investors and business leaders in Miami, Trump reinforced his stance, once again branding Zelensky a “dictator.” He also suggested that the Ukrainian leader was deliberately prolonging the war to maintain the flow of U.S. military aid, referring to it as a “gravy train.”
Zelenskyy’s five-year term was originally set to conclude in 2024, but Ukraine has been unable to hold elections due to martial law, which was declared in February 2022 following Russia’s invasion.
Trump’s remarks came in response to Zelensky’s statement on Tuesday, in which the Ukrainian president accused Trump of echoing Russian propaganda when he claimed Ukraine “should never have started” the war—a conflict that began with Russia’s full-scale invasion three years ago.
Meanwhile, U.S. Vice President JD Vance cautioned Zelensky against criticizing Trump, warning him to be mindful of his comments.
“Everyone who knows the president will tell you that is an atrocious way to deal with this administration,” Vance said in his West Wing office, the Daily Mail reported.
Russia currently controls approximately 20% of Ukraine and continues to make gradual territorial gains in the east. Moscow has justified its so-called “special military operation” by claiming that Kyiv’s push for NATO membership posed an existential threat. However, Ukraine and its Western allies dismiss this narrative, describing Russia’s actions as an attempt at imperialist expansion.
Zelensky also pushed back against Trump’s claim that his approval rating had plummeted to just 4%, calling it a piece of Russian disinformation. He further asserted that any efforts to remove him from power would not succeed.
“We have evidence that these figures are being discussed between America and Russia. That is, President Trump … unfortunately lives in this disinformation space,” Zelensky told Ukrainian TV.
The latest poll from the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology, from early February, found 57% of Ukrainians trust Zelensky.
Following Trump’s latest remarks, U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said Zelensky “sits in office after duly-held elections.” When asked who started the war, Dujarric responded that Russia had invaded Ukraine.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said it was “false and dangerous” for Trump to call Zelenskiy a dictator, German newspaper Spiegel reported.
U.S. security ally Australia, which has provided A$1.5 billion in support to Ukraine in its war with Russia, rejected Trump’s assertions about Ukraine.
Australia’s Defence Minister Richard Marles said “the war in Ukraine must be resolved on Ukraine’s terms, because the aggressor here is Russia”. The country’s opposition leader Peter Dutton said bluntly: “I think President Trump has got it wrong”.
“Australia should stand strong and proud with the people of Ukraine. It’s a democracy, and this is a fight for civilisation. Vladimir Putin is a murderous dictator, and we shouldn’t be giving him an inch,” said Dutton.
A few of Trump’s fellow Republicans in Congress said they disagreed that Zelenskiy was a dictator and that Ukraine bore responsibility for Russia’s invasion. But they stopped short of criticizing Trump directly, with Senate Majority Leader John Thune – a longtime supporter of Ukraine – saying Trump needed “space” to work on a peace deal.
Europe scrambles as Trump shakes up Ukraine policy
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has floated the idea of granting U.S. companies access to Ukraine’s valuable mineral resources in exchange for security guarantees. However, he recently rejected a U.S. proposal that would have granted Washington a 50% stake in Ukraine’s critical minerals, including lithium, which is essential for electric vehicle batteries.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Zelensky dismissed the deal as too one-sided, stating, “I can’t sell our country.”
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump, speaking aboard Air Force One, claimed Ukraine had “more or less” agreed to the proposal and expressed frustration over what he perceived as poor treatment of U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent during his visit to Kyiv. Trump also indicated he would work to revive the minerals agreement.
The Trump administration’s recent maneuvers on Ukraine have left European officials scrambling. A hastily convened meeting of European leaders in Paris, led by French President Emmanuel Macron, resulted in renewed calls for increased military and economic support for Ukraine, but no definitive commitments.
Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer are set to visit Washington next week, according to White House national security adviser Mike Waltz. In discussions with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Macron, and Starmer, Zelensky emphasized the need for robust security guarantees as part of any potential peace agreement. Starmer reaffirmed his backing for Zelensky, underscoring his status as Ukraine’s democratically elected leader.
In an effort to reinforce diplomatic ties, U.S. envoy to Ukraine Keith Kellogg arrived in Kyiv on Wednesday, stating that he understood “the need for security guarantees” and intended to “sit and listen” to Ukraine’s concerns.
Meanwhile, the European Union moved forward with its 16th round of sanctions against Russia, targeting aluminum and vessels suspected of transporting sanctioned Russian oil.
Trump also suggested he may meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin later this month. Putin, for his part, stated that Ukraine would not be excluded from peace talks, but emphasized that rebuilding trust between Moscow and Washington was crucial for any negotiations to succeed.
His remarks came a day after Russian and U.S. officials held their first discussions on ending the war in Riyadh. Notably, Ukraine and European governments were not invited to the Saudi-hosted talks, further stoking fears that Washington and Moscow could strike a deal that overlooks Kyiv’s security interests.
Addressing the situation in a video message, Zelensky stressed that Ukraine’s strategy hinged on “the unity of Europe and the pragmatism of America.”
