ALBAWABA- U.S. President Donald Trump escalated his criticism of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, calling him a "dictator" and accusing him of misusing U.S. aid.
Trump claimed Zelensky was avoiding elections, had a low approval rating, and had manipulated President Joe Biden to secure financial and military support.
In response, Zelensky dismissed Trump’s remarks as Russian disinformation and urged him to seek the truth.
The exchange comes as U.S. and Russian officials met in Riyadh to discuss a potential settlement to the war in Ukraine, with Kyiv notably excluded from the talks.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov praised Trump’s stance, seeing it as an acknowledgment of Moscow’s position.
Trump also echoed Putin’s claims that Zelensky had lost legitimacy by not holding elections, despite Ukrainian law barring them during wartime.
Additionally, Trump alleged that Ukraine had received $350 billion in U.S. aid, a figure Zelensky refuted, stating the actual amount was $98.5 billion.
The growing rift between the U.S. and Ukraine has sparked concern in Kyiv, with Ukrainian officials and soldiers condemning Trump’s comments and insisting that negotiations with Russia remain impossible without a stronger position on the battlefield.
Meanwhile, as diplomatic discussions unfold, Russia continues to escalate its attacks, launching overnight drone strikes that left parts of Ukraine, including Odesa, without power amid freezing temperatures.
