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