The ongoing tension between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and former President Donald Trump intensified on Wednesday, when Trump mocked Zelensky in a post filled with inaccuracies, calling him a “dictator without elections.”

Zelensky and Trump Trade Blows as Feud Escalates Over Peace Talks

Trump’s remarks came shortly after Zelensky accused the U.S. leader of being “caught in a web of disinformation” from Russia concerning the war in Ukraine.https://svtoday.org/

The dispute began after a meeting between American and Russian officials in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, where talks aimed at resolving the war excluded the Ukrainian government. Following that meeting, Trump suggested Ukraine was the instigator of the conflict, prompting a strong rebuttal from Zelensky the following morning.

“I wish there was more truth from the Trump team,” Zelensky remarked, delivering some of his harshest criticism of the former president’s stance on the war in Ukraine.

Addressing the press in Kyiv, Zelensky, standing in front of his sandbag-protected office, stated that the U.S. president was trapped in a “web of disinformation.”

Trump fired back on his Truth Social account with a scathing post: “Think of it, a moderately successful comedian, Volodymyr Zelensky, convinced the U.S. to spend $350 billion on a war that couldn’t be won, a war that never had to happen, but one that he will never be able to end without the U.S. and ‘TRUMP.’”

Trump’s statement misrepresented key facts once again. In reality, the U.S. has allocated $119 billion in aid to Ukraine, according to the Kiel Institute, not $350 billion.

Trump also dismissed the future security of Ukraine as a non-American concern, writing, “This war is far more important to Europe than it is to us. We have a big, beautiful Ocean separating us.”

This escalating feud risks weakening Ukraine’s position in peace negotiations, especially given the U.S.-Russia discussions that have already started without Kyiv’s involvement.

Trump’s focus on U.S. repayment for its military and financial support over the course of the war could obstruct future aid to Ukraine, which heavily relies on American supplies of air-defense weapons, shells, and ammunition to fight against Russia.

“Let’s be honest: Without the U.S., it will be very difficult for us,” said Gen. Kyrylo Budanov, Ukraine’s military intelligence chief, on Wednesday.

Kyiv has been pushing for a seat at the negotiating table, but Trump’s portrayal of Moscow as a willing partner in peace talks and his dismissal of Zelensky’s leadership could further isolate Ukraine.

Trump’s post on Wednesday contained a warning to Zelensky: “He better move fast to secure peace, or he’s not going to have a country left.”

These remarks were a follow-up to similar comments from Tuesday, where Trump claimed Ukraine “should have never started” the war, and seemingly embraced a Russian demand for elections in Ukraine as part of peace talks. Elections were suspended under martial law after Russia’s invasion in February 2022.

Trump also claimed Zelensky’s approval rating was just 4%. Zelensky quickly refuted that, citing polls that showed much higher support, including one from the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology in December, which found that 52% of Ukrainians trusted his leadership.

“So, if anyone wants to replace me right now — that’s not going to happen,” Zelensky said, referring to his approval ratings.

Zelensky accused Trump’s false statements of being the result of misinformation spread by those around him. “Such rhetoric doesn’t help Ukraine — it only helps in bringing Putin out of isolation,” he remarked.

Up until this week, Zelensky had carefully navigated maintaining Ukraine’s position while avoiding a public split with the U.S., its crucial ally. However, after initial ceasefire talks between Russia and the U.S. on Tuesday, Zelensky made it clear he would not accept peace terms negotiated without Ukraine’s involvement.

During Wednesday’s comments, Zelensky pushed back against Trump’s false claims while avoiding direct criticism, attributing them to a wider disinformation campaign. This aligns with his efforts to balance maintaining Ukraine’s relationship with the U.S. while asserting his country’s interests.

At the press conference, Zelensky remained calm and focused. “This is not my first dialogue or fight,” he said. “I take it calmly.”

Zelensky pointed out that Russia was likely pleased with the diplomatic developments, saying, “I think Putin and the Russians are very happy because questions are being discussed with them.”

He expressed concern over the tone of the talks, which, he said, were starting to portray Russia as a victim. “Yesterday, there were signals of speaking with them as victims,” Zelensky said, referring to the Trump administration’s stance toward Russia. “That is something new.”

Zelensky also emphasized that Ukrainians remain distrustful of any promises from Russian negotiators. “Nobody in Ukraine trusts Putin,” he said.

Zelensky outlined efforts to coordinate with allies to secure guarantees preventing Russia from violating any ceasefire agreements. This focus on security guarantees has been central to Ukraine’s diplomatic efforts ahead of any peace talks.

For Russia, the continuation of the war comes at a significant cost, with estimates of over 1,000 soldiers killed or wounded daily, alongside harsh economic sanctions. Ukraine hopes to exchange this pressure on Russia for an acceptance of a peacekeeping force or another security guarantee to prevent further escalation.

Zelensky reiterated that NATO membership was one option for Ukraine’s security, a move rejected by Putin and not supported by the U.S. He also suggested maintaining Ukraine’s large standing army and potential peacekeeping forces from European countries.

Putin, speaking on Wednesday, praised the Trump administration’s officials for fostering a “very friendly” atmosphere at talks in Saudi Arabia, contrasting it with past U.S. administrations, which he suggested were more critical of Russia.

“On the American side, there were completely different people who were open to the negotiation process without any bias,” Putin said.

Putin expressed interest in meeting with Trump but cautioned that preparations for such a meeting were still underway.

Meanwhile, Keith Kellogg, the retired general and Trump’s special envoy to Ukraine and Russia, arrived in Kyiv on the same day. Kellogg said his mission was to “sit and listen” to Ukraine’s concerns. His comments underscored a contrast with Trump’s earlier rhetoric, emphasizing the need for security guarantees and respect for Ukraine’s sovereignty.

Zelensky expressed hope that Kellogg’s visit could break through the “disinformation bubble” surrounding Trump’s stance, urging him to speak directly with civilians and soldiers to gauge their views on the war and Trump’s remarks.