Trump vs. Zelenski: What is behind the escalating war of words? | Russia-Ukraine War News

The President of the United States Donald Trump called his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy “dictator”, as the gap between them deepens by the peace talks of Ukraine.

Trump's last wide end against Zelenski came after Ukrainian leader disputed his allegations that Ukraine had begun the war. Zelenski had also talked against the fact that he had been left in the negotiations in Russia-the name held in the Saudi capital Riyadh on Tuesday.

In an online publication later on Wednesday and during a speech in Miami on the same day, Trump delivered Plastering attacks against the Ukrainian leaderaccusing him of taking us money and confusing the country in endless conflict.

Here is the war of words between Trump and Zelenski and how this can influence the peace initiatives in Ukraine:

What did Trump say about Zelenski?

In Wednesday's publication on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump wrote that Zelenskyy, “moderately successful comedian”, “spoke to the United States of America to spend $ 350 billion to go to war that cannot be Won, this should never have started. “

With regard to the funding paid in Ukraine, he added: “The United States has spent $ 200 billion more than Europe.”

Trump added that Zelenski “refuses to have elections, is very low in Ukrainian polls and the only thing he was good at was to play Biden” Like a Scrip. ” He said Zelenski did a “terrible job” as a leader of Ukraine, considers him a “dictator without election”.

“In the meantime, we are successfully negotiating the war with Russia, something that everyone recognizes only Trump and Trump's administration can do. Biden has never experienced, Europe has failed to bring peace and Zelenski probably wants to maintain the Sauce Train. “

On Wednesday, on stage during the Saudi Arabian Institute's Summit in Miami, Trump thanked Saudi Arabia for hosting Ukraine, which was attended by American and Russian employees.

On Tuesday, diplomats from Russia and the United States held the first face -to -face talks after Moscow's invasion of Ukraine three years ago. After four hours of talks, the two sides agreed to create a team to work to end the war – the most deadly conflict in Europe after World War II. They also agreed to revive the diplomatic ties that descended to a historically low after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Why does Trump say this and what else said?

Trump's comments came a day after Zelenski said Trump was inhabiting a “space for misinformation created by Russian in terms of war in Ukraine.

“The reason that Donald Trump does this is that he is known for thin skin. And he is not pleased with the comments that Volodimir Zelenski made earlier, “said Al Jazeera White House correspondent with Al Jazeera Kimberly Halket.

On Tuesday, Trump accused Ukraine of beginning the war, saying, “I heard today,” Oh, we were not invited. ” Well, you've been there for three years, you had to finish it … You never had to start it. You could make a deal. “

He also claims that Ukraine must hold elections. He said, without evidence that Zelenski had a 4 percent approval rating.

The retreat from Zelenski, some analysts say, came after Trump repeated Russian speaking points about war in Ukraine and excluded Kiev from negotiations in Riyadh on Tuesday.

While the war of words between Trump and Zelenski has recently escalated against the backdrop of negotiations to end the war in Ukraine, hostility has been developing between the two for years.

During Trump's first term in September 2019, he wanted Zelenski to work with US lawyer Rudy Juliani in the investigation of political rival Democrat Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden. Trump claims that Biden has tried to intervene in a Ukrainian prosecutor in connection with his son. This was when it was claimed that Hunter was taking bribe from Burisma -based company. Hunter pleaded guilty In the case of tax evasion, but was pardoned by Biden Months later in December 2024.

Although criticized the Ukrainian leader along the campaign path, Trump met Green's months before the New York election at Trump's Tower to discuss how to end the war.

What did Zelensky say?

“We have evidence that these figures are being discussed between America and Russia. That is, President Trump … Unfortunately, he lives in this misinformation space, “Zelenski told Ukrainian television on Tuesday in the context of Trump's comments about his approval evaluation.

The war of words between the two leaders intensified after Trump spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin last week and agreed to talk with Moscow without the participation of Kiev and Europe.

Mixed Zelenski claims that Ukraine with European nations should be presented to Riyadh Talks.

Trump's confidence to Putin stunned European leaders who believe that the Russian leader cannot be trusted. They are afraid that a deal with Ukraine without them will leave Europe vulnerable to Russian aggression.

On Wednesday, Zelenski accused the Trump administration of removing Moscow from isolation. He said Russia could not be trusted.

“This is not positive for Ukraine. What he does is that they bring Putin out of the isolation, and the Russians are happy because the discussion focuses on them. “

Are Trump's allegations true?

Zelenski's five -year term is to be completed in May 2024, but the elections were terminated after the military situation was announced after a full -scale invasion of Russia in the Eastern European nation.

The numbers quoted by Trump in terms of Ukraine's assistance contradict the data collected by research institutes.

As of December 2024, European countries sent about $ 138 billion to Ukraine, while the United States sent about $ 120 billion, according to the World Economy Institute in Kiel.

With regard to the evaluation of Zelenski's approval, at the end of 2024, 52 percent of Ukrainians said they were trusting him, according to a study conducted by the International Institute of Sociology of Kiev (KII).

Trump's claim that Ukraine has begun the war is also incorrect. Russia sent troops inside Ukraine as part of what he calls a “special military operation” and has since captured nearly 20 percent of Ukrainian territory.

What are diplomatic consequences?

Zelenskyy should meet with Trump's special messenger for the war in Ukraine-Russia Keith Kellog, on Thursday in the capital Kiev.

Ukraine has sought guarantees of security from its Western allies against Russian aggression in the event of a peaceful deal. Kellog, who arrived in Kiev on Wednesday, said: “We understand the need for security guarantees.”

How the public feud between Zelenski and Trump would affect the result of the conversations is difficult to assume due to the unpredictable behavior of the President of the United States.

But a change in US policy towards Ukraine under Trump will affect transatlantic ties, with European leaders being confronted with an answer.

What are the reactions?

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz told the Spiegel newspaper: “It's just wrong and dangerous to abandon President Zelenski Democratic legitimacy.

“Volodymyr Zelenskyy is the chosen head of Ukraine. The fact that the right elections cannot be held in the middle of war is in accordance with the requirements of Ukrainian constitutions and electoral laws. No one should ask for anything else. “

The United Kingdom Prime Minister Kayer Starmer called Zelenski on Wednesday to reinforce his support for the Ukrainian leader, said a Downing Street spokesman, according to the BBC.

It was “completely wise to stop the election during wartime, as the United Kingdom did during World War II,” the spokesman added.