Trump Labels Ukraine's Zelenskyy a 'Dictator,' Urges Him to 'Act Quickly' or Risk Losing His Country

Trump criticized Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, stating, “A dictator without elections, Zelenskyy better act quickly or he won’t have a country left.” He was referring to Zelenskyy's decision to delay elections amid the ongoing war, adding that Zelenskyy had “done a terrible job.”

Trump’s remarks come as he shifts U.S. policy on the conflict, opening talks with Moscow and questioning continued American support for Ukraine. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, the U.S. has been a major source of military aid to Ukraine.

In response, Zelenskyy accused Trump of spreading Russian “disinformation” and rejected his claims that Ukraine had “started” the war, a narrative often promoted by the Kremlin.

Trump further criticized Zelenskyy, noting his refusal to hold elections, his low approval ratings in Ukraine, and claimed that Zelenskyy’s only success was manipulating President Biden “like a fiddle.”

Although elected in 2019 for a five-year term, Zelenskyy remains in office under wartime martial law. While his approval has waned, polls from the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) show that trust in him has consistently remained above 50% throughout the conflict.

Trump also asserted that only his administration could successfully negotiate a peace deal to end the war.