In a dramatic exchange that has captured global attention, former U.S. President Donald Trump labeled Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy "a dictator" while urging him to "move fast" or risk losing his country. Trump's comments highlighted ongoing tensions as he accused Zelenskyy of persuading the United States to spend $350 billion on the war in Ukraine. However, Zelenskyy refuted these claims, emphasizing that most of Ukraine's support originates from the European Union, not the United States.
Trump went further by asserting that Zelenskyy's approval rating stands at a meager 4%, a claim Zelenskyy dismissed. The Ukrainian leader maintained that he does not comment on popularity ratings but noted that recent polls indicate a majority of Ukrainians trust him. Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine's digital affairs minister, countered Trump's statement by saying Zelenskyy's approval ratings are "4-5%" higher than Trump's.
The dispute escalated as Trump proposed that the U.S. take ownership of 50% of Ukraine's critical minerals in exchange for continued military and economic aid. Zelenskyy firmly rejected this notion, stating he could not "sell Ukraine away" but expressed willingness to work on a serious document if it included "security guarantees." The U.S. has already supplied $67 billion in weapons and $31.5 billion in budget support to Ukraine, showcasing significant involvement in the ongoing conflict.
Meanwhile, the European Union has agreed on a 16th package of sanctions against Russia, targeting sectors such as aluminum and vessels believed to be transporting sanctioned Russian oil. Zelenskyy expressed hope for a "constructive" meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken to further address these issues.
Ruslan Stefanchuk, speaker of Ukraine's parliament, emphasized that Ukraine is not "giving up" on elections despite legislative bans during martial law, which has been in place since Russia's invasion began in February 2022. Few Ukrainians support holding elections amid the ongoing conflict, which has displaced millions and resulted in significant casualties on the frontlines.
In a strong defense of Zelenskyy's leadership, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz condemned attempts to undermine his democratic legitimacy as "wrong and dangerous." The international community remains divided over the situation in Ukraine, with various leaders weighing in on the complex dynamics at play.
"A Dictator without Elections, Zelenskyy better move fast or he is not going to have a Country left." – Donald Trump
Trump further claimed he is negotiating an end to the war with Russia, insisting that only his administration can achieve such a resolution. He criticized President Zelenskyy, suggesting his only success was manipulating Biden.
"We are successfully negotiating an end to the War with Russia, something all admit only ‘TRUMP’ and the Trump Administration, can do" – Donald Trump
"The only thing he was good at was playing Biden ‘like a fiddle’" – Donald Trump
Zelenskyy responded by accusing Trump of being caught in a misinformation bubble, urging him to engage with ordinary Ukrainians to understand their perspective on his statements.
"Unfortunately, President Trump, with all due respect for him as the leader of a nation that we respect greatly … is trapped in this disinformation bubble" – Volodymyr Zelenskyy
"go and talk to ordinary Ukrainians about their reception of Trump’s comments" – Volodymyr Zelenskyy
In response to Trump's claims about polling, Zelenskyy pointed out that such disinformation likely emanates from Russia.
"As we are talking about 4%, we have seen this disinformation, we understand it’s coming from Russia" – Volodymyr Zelenskyy
Former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence weighed in, reminding Trump that Ukraine did not initiate the war. Rather, Russia's unprovoked invasion has resulted in significant loss of life. Pence emphasized that any path to peace must be rooted in truth.
"Mr. President, Ukraine did not ‘start’ this war. Russia launched an unprovoked and brutal invasion claiming hundreds of thousands of lives. The Road to Peace must be built on the Truth" – Mike Pence
Discussions around security guarantees continue to unfold, with former National Security Advisor Keith Kellogg acknowledging Ukraine's need for them.
"We understand the need for security guarantees" – Keith Kellogg
Amidst these political exchanges, Vladimir Putin expressed his positive assessment of the Russia-U.S. summit held in Riyadh.
"I highly rated the results of the Russia-US summit in Riyadh" – Vladimir Putin
In Ukraine, the question of elections remains contentious. Ruslan Stefanchuk strongly opposed conducting elections under current conditions, arguing it would serve Kremlin interests rather than genuine democratic processes.
"Inventing ‘democracy’ under shelling is not democracy, but a spectacle in which the main beneficiary is in the Kremlin. Ukraine needs bullets, not ballots" – Ruslan Stefanchuk