Wed Feb 19 16:33:00 UTC 2025: ## Trump Calls Zelensky a “Dictator,” Reigniting Tensions Amidst Ukraine War
**Washington, D.C.** – Former US President Donald Trump escalated his war of words with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, labeling him a “dictator” and claiming he is hindering peace negotiations with Russia. Trump’s comments, posted on his Truth Social platform, come after a press conference where he echoed several Kremlin talking points, blaming Ukraine for the ongoing conflict and questioning Zelensky’s legitimacy.
Trump’s remarks represent a significant shift from previous US support for Ukraine. While the US has provided substantial financial and military aid to Ukraine, Trump, since leaving office, has initiated dialogue with Moscow. He boasts of his ability to broker a peace deal, claiming it’s a task only he and his administration can accomplish.
Zelensky responded by accusing Trump of spreading Russian disinformation, citing Trump’s assertions that Kyiv started the war and his doubts over Zelensky’s electoral mandate. Ukrainian law suspends elections during wartime, and while Zelensky’s popularity has declined, his approval ratings have remained above 50% since the Russian invasion, according to the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology. Trump’s claims of Zelensky being “very low in Ukrainian Polls” are thus contradicted by available data.
This latest exchange significantly strains US-Ukraine relations and raises concerns about the potential impact on ongoing efforts to resolve the conflict. The public spat highlights a deepening divide in US foreign policy towards the ongoing war in Ukraine.
First Piper 