Former U.S. President Donald Trump has intensified his critique of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, calling him a "dictator" in a recent Truth Social post. This comment has sparked international backlash, with global leaders rushing to defend Zelensky's democratic legitimacy. Trump accused Zelensky of having only a 4% approval rating, a claim contradicted by recent polls showing 57% of Ukrainians trust their president. As Ukraine remains under martial law due to Russia's ongoing invasion, scheduled elections have been suspended, adding to the complexity of the situation.
Trump's accusations and remarks have not gone unnoticed. During a news conference at Mar-a-Lago in Florida, he blamed Ukraine for the war, stating that the conflict is "far more important to Europe than it is to us." He further accused Zelensky's government of "breaking the deal" over rare-earth minerals. In response, Zelensky emphasized that disinformation, particularly from Russia, is influencing perceptions.
"We are seeing a lot of disinformation and it's coming from Russia. With all due respect to President Donald Trump as a leader… he is living in this disinformation space." – Volodymyr Zelensky
The Ukrainian president also highlighted the global stakes of the situation.
"the world faced the choice to be 'with Putin or with peace.'" – Volodymyr Zelensky
Trump’s comments have drawn criticism from several European leaders. UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer expressed his support for Zelensky in a phone call, while Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson criticized Trump's language, and German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock deemed the comments "absurd." The European Union has responded by announcing plans to impose further sanctions on Russia.
Zelensky’s term as president is set to conclude in May 2024, but Ukraine has been under martial law since February 2022 due to Russia's full-scale invasion. As a result, elections have been suspended, leading to discussions about Zelensky’s legitimacy as Ukraine’s leader. Former Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk defended Zelensky.
"Volodymyr Zelensky is a completely legitimate president." – Arseniy Yatsenyuk
Yatsenyuk also addressed the impossibility of conducting elections under the current conditions.
"We cannot hold elections under martial law." – Arseniy Yatsenyuk
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz added his voice to the chorus of support for Zelensky.
"it is simply wrong and dangerous to deny President Zelensky his democratic legitimacy." – Olaf Scholz
In contrast to Trump's assertions, recent polling suggests strong domestic support for Zelensky, with 57% of Ukrainians expressing trust in their president. This figure contradicts Trump's portrayal of Zelensky’s popularity, highlighting a growing rift between the former U.S. president and the Ukrainian leader.
Amidst these tensions, the United States and Russia held their first high-level talks since the onset of Russia's invasion. The discussions underscored the international dimension of the conflict and the crucial role of diplomacy in resolving it. Trump commented on the situation.
"I hear that they're upset about not having a seat, well, they've had a seat for three years and a long time before that. This could have been settled very easily." – Donald Trump
He also suggested that a resolution was within reach.
"You should have never started it. You could have made a deal." – Donald Trump
Despite these assertions, Trump maintained that the war's significance lies primarily with Europe.
"We have a big, beautiful ocean as a separation." – Donald Trump
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