In a recent outburst, former President Donald Trump launched a scathing critique of Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky, branding him a “dictator” and claiming he has performed poorly in his role. This latest attack followed Zelensky’s remarks regarding US-Russia discussions held in Saudi Arabia, from which Ukraine was notably absent. In response, Zelensky indicated that President Biden was “living in a disinformation space” influenced by Moscow.
Political fallout from Trump’s remarks
Trump’s description of Zelensky as a “dictator” quickly incited backlash from various European leaders. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz responded firmly, stating that denying Zelensky’s democratic legitimacy was “simply wrong and dangerous.” Meanwhile, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock deemed Trump’s comments “absurd,” asserting that true dictatorships exist in Russia and Belarus, not in Ukraine.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and UK opposition leader Kemi Badenoch echoed these sentiments, emphasizing Zelensky’s mandate as a democratically elected leader. Zelensky’s current presidential term is set to expire in May 2024, but with Ukraine under martial law since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, elections remain suspended.
Trump’s claims and Zelensky’s response
A White House official clarified that Trump’s latest remarks were a direct response to Zelensky’s statements regarding “disinformation.” Trump expressed his love for Ukraine but criticized Zelensky, saying, “his country is shattered, and MILLIONS have unnecessarily died.” He claimed that the US was making progress in negotiating an end to the war with Russia.
“Volodymyr Zelensky is a completely legitimate president,”
Former Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk countered Trump’s assertions, claiming that Russia must be celebrating the remarks and noted that elections cannot occur under martial law. The verbal exchanges intensified during a press conference held by Trump at Mar-A-Lago, where he shifted blame onto Ukraine for the ongoing conflict.
When pressed by BBC News about the concerns of Ukrainians feeling betrayed, Trump remarked that Ukraine had a “seat” at the discussion table for several years, suggesting that the situation could have been resolved sooner. He further implied that Ukraine should never have instigated the conflict, indicating they could have reached a settlement.
In contrast, Zelensky retaliated by asserting that misinformation was rampant, stemming from Russian narratives. He maintained that the US had inadvertently aided Putin’s return from isolation and firmly rejected Trump’s requests for access to Ukraine’s mineral resources, highlighting the lack of security guarantees.
Despite Trump claiming that Zelensky’s approval rating was a mere 4%, recent polling indicates that 57% of Ukrainians trust their president. In his contentious Truth Social post, Trump also criticized Europe, asserting that the conflict in Ukraine is “far more important to Europe than it is to us,” and pointed to the geographical buffer of the Atlantic Ocean as a separation.
As tensions rise, Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed a willingness to meet Trump, signaling an ongoing diplomatic intrigue. Concurrently, the EU announced plans for additional sanctions against Russia, targeting its aluminum exports and numerous vessels suspected of illegal oil transport. More Russian banks are set to be disconnected from the global Swift payment system, alongside further restrictions on Russian media within Europe.