Trump calls Zelenskyy a 'dictator'

PanARMENIAN.Net - The war of words between former U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy intensified on Wednesday after Trump referred to Zelenskyy as a "dictator."

"I love Ukraine, but Zelenskyy has done a terrible job, his country is shattered, and millions have unnecessarily died," Trump stated on Truth Social.

"Zelensky better move fast or he is not going to have a country left," he added, according to Euronews

Trump’s remarks came in response to Zelenskyy’s earlier criticism, in which the Ukrainian leader accused Trump of being influenced by Russian "disinformation." Zelenskyy made this claim after Trump suggested that Ukraine’s presidency was illegitimate due to the absence of elections.

Ukraine had originally planned to hold a presidential election in March or April 2024, marking the end of Zelenskyy’s first five-year term. However, the vote was postponed because the country’s constitution prohibits elections under martial law. This law has been in effect since February 24, 2022, when Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The Kremlin has repeatedly attempted to use this delay to cast doubt on Zelenskyy’s legitimacy, a claim that Kyiv has dismissed as a misrepresentation of its constitutional laws.

Speaking at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday, Zelenskyy said he was open to discussing the possibility of holding elections, but the Ukrainian people were concerned that lifting martial law could weaken the country’s defenses.

"I am focusing on the survival of our country. I've been doing this throughout my term," he said.

Meanwhile, questions have also emerged about the presidential election held in Russia in March 2024, in which President Vladimir Putin secured a fifth term with 88% of the vote.

The election faced widespread criticism due to the lack of genuine competition, as key opposition figures, including Alexei Navalny, were barred from running by the Central Election Commission. Other irregularities further undermined the vote's credibility.

Most international observers deemed the election neither free nor fair.