Rising tensions between former US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy have sparked a heated war of words, with Trump branding Zelenskyy a “dictator without elections” and warning him to “move fast”. This verbal attack came after Zelenskyy accused Trump of being influenced by Russian propaganda and suggested there were efforts to destabilize his leadership.

Taking to social media, Trump criticized Zelenskyy for postponing elections in Ukraine due to the ongoing war with Russia. He alleged that Zelenskyy, once a popular figure, was losing public support and accused him of manipulating US President Joe Biden to secure American financial aid. Trump wrote, “He refuses to hold elections, has poor poll numbers in Ukraine, and the only thing he excelled at was playing Biden like a fiddle. A dictator without elections, Zelenskyy better act quickly, or he won’t have a country left.”

These remarks followed Zelenskyy’s earlier comments on Ukrainian television, where he refuted Trump’s claims about his declining approval ratings and described them as Russian misinformation. He stated that Trump was trapped in a Russian “disinformation bubble”. Zelenskyy maintained that his approval rating stood at 57%, not the 4% claimed by Trump.

The dispute coincided with a significant diplomatic meeting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov discussed ways to end the war in Ukraine. The talks, which excluded Ukrainian representatives, prompted an immediate backlash from Zelenskyy. He declared that “no decisions about Ukraine can be made without Ukraine” and postponed his scheduled visit to Saudi Arabia to avoid endorsing the talks.

Trump intensified his criticism, accusing Zelenskyy of prolonging the conflict for financial gain. He claimed that Zelenskyy had convinced the US to spend $350 billion on a war that was unwinnable and avoidable. Trump suggested that Zelenskyy wanted to maintain the flow of aid from the US, calling it a “gravy train”. He added, “I love Ukraine, but Zelenskyy has failed as a leader. His country is in ruins, and millions have perished unnecessarily.”

Zelenskyy rejected Trump’s allegations and stressed that Ukraine’s military remained strong and determined to defend the nation. He emphasized that the Ukrainian people would not accept concessions to Russia and insisted that any negotiations must involve Ukraine directly.

Meanwhile, the meeting in Riyadh marked a potential thaw in US-Russia relations, with both nations agreeing to work towards resolving their disputes and seeking an end to the Ukraine conflict. However, Zelenskyy’s exclusion from the talks highlighted the growing diplomatic rift and his concerns about being sidelined in decisions affecting his country.

As tensions between Trump and Zelenskyy escalate, the situation underscores the complex and evolving geopolitical landscape surrounding the Russia-Ukraine war. Both leaders remain firmly entrenched in their positions, with Trump pushing for a swift resolution and Zelenskyy seeking to safeguard Ukraine’s sovereignty and independence.