Trump Slams Zelenskyy: ‘A Dictator Without Elections’

President Donald Trump has once again taken aim at Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, calling him “a dictator without elections” and accusing him of mishandling the ongoing conflict with Russia. In a fiery social media post on Wednesday, Trump criticized the Ukrainian leader’s reliance on U.S. aid and questioned his ability to lead his war-torn nation.

“Think of it, a modestly successful comedian, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, talked the United States of America into spending $350 billion dollars to go into a war that couldn’t be won, that never had to start,” Trump wrote. “But a war that he, without the U.S. and ‘TRUMP,’ will never be able to settle.”

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— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 19, 2025

Trump’s latest remarks come a day after he suggested—’incorrectly’, according to international analysts—that Zelenskyy “started” the war with Russia. While Moscow launched the invasion in February 2022, Trump argues that the Ukrainian leader’s actions and unwillingness to negotiate have prolonged the conflict.

“Zelenskyy wants to keep the ‘gravy train’ going,” Trump added, referencing the billions of dollars in U.S. military aid sent to Ukraine since the war began. “His country is shattered, and MILLIONS have unnecessarily died.”

Zelenskyy, who has suspended elections in Ukraine under martial law, quickly fired back at Trump’s statements, dismissing them as “Russian disinformation.”

These latest blows highlight growing tensions between Trump and Ukraine as the former president seeks to redefine America’s foreign policy approach. His recent exclusion of Ukraine from proposed peace talks with Russia has raised concerns among European allies, who fear that a second Trump presidency could mean a dramatic shift in U.S. support for Kyiv.

Meanwhile, some American conservatives have echoed Trump’s skepticism about continued aid to Ukraine. “We have pressing issues here at home,” said a Republican strategist familiar with Trump’s campaign. “The border crisis, inflation, crime—Americans want their leaders focused on their problems, not sending endless money overseas.”