U.S. President Donald Trump attacked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in a Truth Social post on Wednesday, calling him a “dictator” and accusing him of mishandling Russia’s invasion. The remarks followed Zelensky’s statement that Trump was falling for Russian “disinformation” in his efforts to negotiate an end to the war.

Trump further claimed that Zelensky had “done a terrible job” leading Ukraine and warned that he must “move fast or he is not going to have a country left.” He also implied that Zelensky was unwilling to end the war, suggesting he wanted to keep foreign aid flowing. Additionally, Trump echoed Russian demands that Ukraine hold elections, despite the fact that Zelensky was democratically elected in 2019 and postponed the 2024 elections under martial law following Russia’s invasion.

Positioning himself as a mediator in the conflict, Trump boasted about a “lengthy and very productive” call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Meanwhile, U.S. and Russian officials met in Saudi Arabia this week to discuss improving relations and a potential resolution to the war.

However, Zelensky dismissed Trump’s peace efforts, stating that Ukraine was not informed of the talks and would reject any deal made without its participation. He also refuted Trump’s accusations, emphasizing that his leadership remains strong and continues to have public support despite the war’s toll. Additionally, reports indicate that Zelensky has resisted Trump’s interest in Ukraine’s rare minerals, citing a lack of security guarantees in return.

Foreign leaders have responded critically to U.S. President Donald Trump and Zelensky verbal battle :

Former Vice President Mike Pence directly rebuked the claim in a tweet on Wednesday, emphasizing that Russia is solely to blame for the conflict. "Russia launched an unprovoked and brutal invasion, claiming hundreds of thousands of lives,” Pence stated. “The road to peace must be built on the truth.”

French government spokesperson Sophie Primas also dismissed Trump’s assertions, calling his statements “diverse, varied, and often incomprehensible.” She added that France does not “understand the logic” behind the suggestion that Ukraine is responsible for the war.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz rejected the notion that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky should be considered a dictator, pointing out that it is common for elections to be postponed during wartime. Similarly, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer reaffirmed Zelensky’s legitimacy, warning that framing him as a dictator is both “wrong and dangerous.