President Donald Trump criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday, calling him a “dictator” for refusing to hold elections while the country remains under martial law.
Trump’s remarks came just a day after Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who reiterated that one of President Vladimir Putin’s conditions for peace in Ukraine is the holding of fresh elections. Trump also voiced his support for elections in Ukraine.
“Think of it—a modestly successful comedian, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, convinced the United States to spend $350 billion on a war that couldn’t be won and never had to start,” Trump stated on Truth Social. “Without the U.S. and ‘TRUMP,’ he will never be able to settle it.”
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 19, 2025
Trump also criticized the disproportionate financial burden the U.S. has carried in supporting Ukraine compared to Europe. “The United States has spent $200 billion more than Europe, and while their money is guaranteed, we will get nothing back. Why didn’t Sleepy Joe Biden demand equalization, considering this war is far more important to Europe than to us? We have a big, beautiful ocean separating us,” he said.
Trump further claimed that Zelenskyy admitted to mismanaging funds and accused him of trying to prolong the conflict for financial gain. “Zelenskyy admits that half of the money we sent him is ‘missing.’ He refuses to hold elections, is unpopular in Ukrainian polls, and his only skill was playing Biden ‘like a fiddle.’ A dictator without elections—Zelenskyy better move fast or he won’t have a country left,” Trump warned.
Trump also took credit for ongoing negotiations to end the war, asserting that only he and his administration could bring peace. “Biden never tried, Europe has failed, and Zelenskyy probably wants to keep the ‘gravy train’ going. I love Ukraine, but Zelenskyy has done a terrible job—his country is shattered, and millions have died unnecessarily,” he wrote.
Zelenskyy’s presidential term expired in May 2024, but under Ukrainian law, elections cannot be held while the country remains under martial law.
Ukraine has been under martial law since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in February 2022. Secretary of State Antony Blinken previously defended this position, stating that elections would only take place once displaced Ukrainians could safely return and vote under free and fair conditions.
Blinken reaffirmed U.S. support for Ukraine, saying, “The United States has been by your side from day one. We’re with you today, and we will stay by your side until Ukraine’s security, sovereignty, and ability to choose its own path are guaranteed.”
During a recent diplomatic visit to Kyiv, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent met with Zelenskyy to discuss the development of Ukraine’s rare earth mineral deposits.
Journalist Jack Posobiec, who was on the trip, reported that Zelenskyy initially resisted U.S. involvement in the project despite Ukraine’s massive $200 billion debt to the U.S.
Following Trump’s return to office, the administration moved quickly to end the war and stop the flow of U.S. funds and weapons to Ukraine.
This shift reportedly left Zelenskyy feeling “stressed” ahead of the American transition of power. Meanwhile, Rubio and Lavrov met in Saudi Arabia to discuss potential peace terms.
Zelenskyy was reportedly furious that Ukraine was excluded from the negotiations, insisting that his country would not abide by a deal it was not involved in crafting.
European leaders also expressed frustration over being left out, gathering in France to voice their complaints. However, rather than proposing a concrete peace plan, they reportedly threatened to block Trump from receiving a Nobel Peace Prize should he successfully broker an agreement.