Trump Calls Zelensky ‘a Dictator’ Amid War of Words Over Ukraine-Russia Conflict
Former U.S. President Donald Trump has labeled Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky “a dictator,” intensifying tensions between the two leaders after Trump falsely claimed that Ukraine was responsible for starting the war with Russia.
Trump made the remark on his social media platform, Truth Social, just hours after Zelensky accused him of echoing Russian disinformation.
Speaking from Kyiv, Zelensky refuted Trump’s unfounded claims and reiterated that any peace deal to end the war must involve Ukraine directly.
Trump Calls Zelensky ‘a Dictator’ as Tensions Escalate Over Ukraine War
Former U.S. President Donald Trump has called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky “a dictator,” further inflaming tensions between the two leaders after Trump falsely claimed that Ukraine was responsible for starting the war with Russia.
Trump’s remark, posted on his social media platform Truth Social, came after Zelensky accused him of living in a “disinformation space.”
“Unfortunately, President Trump – I have great respect for him as a leader of a nation that we have great respect for, the American people who always support us – unfortunately lives in this disinformation space,” Zelensky said during a press conference in Kyiv.
Trump has repeatedly stated that he wants the war to end quickly, even if it means Ukraine ceding more territory. His stance has alarmed Kyiv and its allies, as he has occasionally echoed Kremlin narratives, blaming Ukraine and NATO for the conflict and even suggesting that Ukraine “may be Russian some day.”
Trump Calls Zelensky ‘a Dictator’ as U.S. and Russia Hold Talks Without Ukraine
Former U.S. President Donald Trump has escalated tensions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky by calling him “a dictator,” following Zelensky’s accusation that Trump is spreading Russian disinformation about the war.
Meanwhile, in a significant diplomatic move, U.S. and Russian officials met in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for high-level talks on ending the war—without Ukraine’s participation. Russian President Vladimir Putin praised the discussions, calling the atmosphere “friendly” and noting that U.S. negotiators were more open to dialogue without “bias” or “condemnation.”
The U.S. and Russia agreed to form high-level teams to continue negotiations and restore diplomatic channels, a move that has drawn sharp criticism from Zelensky. He expressed frustration over Ukraine’s exclusion, stating that the talks “helped Putin out of his long isolation.”
Under President Biden, the U.S. has been one of Ukraine’s strongest allies, providing tens of billions in military aid. However, Trump has made clear he opposes further aid without direct U.S. benefits. Earlier this month, he suggested Ukraine should give the U.S. access to its mineral resources in exchange for future assistance.
Zelensky rejected that idea, revealing that Washington had asked Ukraine to surrender 50% of its rare minerals without offering security guarantees in return. “I cannot, I cannot sell our state,” he said.
