Donald Trump has escalated his feud with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, calling him a “dictator” and accusing him of playing President Joe Biden “like a fiddle.” Trump’s comments came after Zelensky criticized the US-Russia talks held in Saudi Arabia, saying that President Biden was operating in a “disinformation space” influenced by Moscow. This sparked outrage from European leaders, with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer defending Zelensky’s legitimacy and democratic role, especially during wartime when elections are suspended under martial law.
Trump’s remarks were condemned by leaders across Europe, including Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, who called his comments “absurd” and pointed out that the real dictatorships are in Russia and Belarus. Trump continued his criticism, saying that Zelensky’s refusal to hold elections amid the war was evidence of his poor leadership, adding that Zelensky’s country was “shattered” and millions had died unnecessarily due to his failure. Trump also accused Zelensky of breaking a deal to supply rare-earth minerals to the US.
The war of words began earlier when Trump suggested that Ukraine could have avoided the war by making a deal before Russia invaded in February 2022, disregarding the fact that the invasion was initiated by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Zelensky hit back, accusing Trump of being influenced by Russian disinformation. The Ukrainian leader rejected Trump’s claims about his popularity, citing polling that showed 57% of Ukrainians trusted him. Trump’s criticism of Zelensky’s popularity further deepened the divide, as he claimed that Zelensky had only a 4% approval rating.
As the rhetoric heats up, Zelensky is set to meet with US envoy Keith Kellogg to ensure ongoing cooperation between Ukraine and the United States. Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed interest in meeting Trump, amid the growing tensions. The EU has responded by imposing new sanctions on Russia, targeting its aluminum industry and expanding financial restrictions. Despite the increasing friction, Zelensky’s focus remains on securing peace and continuing his efforts to gain support from the US and Europe in Ukraine’s fight against Russian aggression.
SOURCE: BBC