President Donald Trump has intensified his criticism of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, calling him a “dictator without elections” and blaming him for prolonging the war with Russia.
Trump: Zelensky ‘Talked’ U.S. Into $350 Billion War
In a fiery post on Truth Social, Trump slammed Zelensky, writing: “Think of it, a modestly successful comedian, Volodymyr Zelensky, talked the United States of America into spending $350 billion to go into a war that couldn’t be won, that never had to start.”
Trump went further, accusing Zelensky of mismanaging U.S. aid: “On top of this, Zelensky admits that half of the money we sent him is ‘missing.’ He refuses to hold elections, is very low in Ukrainian polls, and the only thing he was good at was playing Biden ‘like a fiddle.’”
Zelensky Left Out of U.S.-Russia Talks
Trump’s remarks come after the U.S. began negotiations with Russia in Saudi Arabia—without Ukraine’s participation. While European leaders have criticized Kyiv’s exclusion, Trump brushed off complaints.
“And now they’re saying, ‘Oh, we weren’t invited.’ Well, you’ve been there for three years. You should have ended it—three years, you should have never started it,” Trump said at Mar-a-Lago.
Trump Pushes for New Elections in Ukraine
Trump also revealed that he supports the idea of Ukraine holding elections before any peace deal is finalized—a move widely seen as a potential opening for a pro-Russian government.
“We have a situation where we haven’t had elections in Ukraine, where we have martial law… The country has been blown to smithereens, cities are in ruins, and yet there’s no democratic process,” he said.
Talks With Russia ‘Going Very Well’
Despite ongoing Russian attacks on Ukraine, Trump expressed confidence in the negotiations. He praised a recent meeting between U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian officials, calling it “very good.”
“Russia wants to do something. They want to stop the savage barbarianism,” he claimed, even as Moscow launched new drone strikes on Kyiv.
U.S. and Russia Eye Energy Cooperation
Amid the talks, reports have emerged that U.S. and Russian officials are discussing potential cooperation on Arctic oil drilling. Kirill Dmitriev, head of Russia’s Direct Investment Fund, told Politico that both sides explored “specific areas of cooperation.”
Trump’s push for a quick peace deal—while Ukraine remains sidelined—marks a stark shift from the Biden administration’s approach. With negotiations underway, the question remains: Will Trump broker a deal, or is Ukraine being forced into a settlement on Moscow’s terms?
