President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine and US President Donald Trump exchanged fresh barbs on Wednesday, intensifying a feud sparked by the exclusion of Kyiv from ongoing peace negotiations between Washington and Moscow.
Trump, in a post on his social media platform Truth Social, labelled Zelensky a "dictator without elections," hours after the Ukrainian leader accused the US President of being "caught in a web of disinformation" disseminated by Russia.
The row erupted following a meeting between American and Russian officials in Saudi Arabia to discuss ending the war in Ukraine—a meeting to which Kyiv was not invited.
After the talks, Trump claimed Ukraine had initiated the conflict, provoking a sharp retort from Zelensky.
"I would like to have more truth with the Trump team," Zelensky said at a press conference in Kyiv, in one of his most forthright criticisms of Trump to date.
Addressing reporters from his fortified presidential office, the Ukrainian leader said the US President was ensnared in Russian propaganda. "Such rhetoric doesn't help Ukraine—it only helps in bringing Putin out of isolation," he asserted.
Trump, in his online post, further claimed, "Think of it, a modestly successful comedian, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, talked the United States of America into spending $350 billion dollars, to go into a war that couldn't be won." However, the Kiel Institute for the World Economy in Germany has estimated that US aid to Ukraine stands at $119 billion, not the $350 billion claimed by Trump.
The US President also suggested Ukraine's security was Europe's concern, writing, "This war is far more important to Europe than it is to us. We have a big, beautiful ocean as separation."
The escalating war of words could have significant ramifications for Ukraine's ongoing struggle against Russia. Kyiv remains heavily reliant on American military and financial aid.
General Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraine's military intelligence agency, warned on Wednesday, "Let's be honest: Without the US, it will be very difficult for us."
Also read: Trump living in Russian 'disinformation space': Zelenskyy
Trump's demand that Ukraine hold presidential elections aligns with a longstanding Russian condition. Elections in Ukraine have been suspended under martial law since Russia's invasion in February 2022.
The US President also questioned Zelensky's legitimacy, claiming his approval rating was as low as 4 per cent.
However, a December poll by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology found that 52 per cent of Ukrainians trust Zelensky's leadership.
"So, if anyone wants to replace me right now—that's not going to happen," Zelensky said in response.
Despite the heated rhetoric, Zelensky remained composed.
"This is not my first dialogue or fight," he remarked. "I take it calmly."
Russia has welcomed the direction of the negotiations. President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday praised the Trump administration's approach, describing the US delegation in Riyadh as "very friendly."
He expressed willingness to meet Trump but cautioned that extensive preparatory work was required, "including on the Ukrainian track."
"I'll be happy to meet with Donald," Putin said. "We haven't seen each other in a while."
Meanwhile, Zelensky underscored the need for robust security guarantees to prevent future Russian aggression.
Possible measures include a European-led peacekeeping force or NATO membership, although Putin and the United States have rejected the latter option.
On the same day, retired General Keith Kellogg, appointed by Trump as his special envoy to Ukraine and Russia, arrived in Kyiv for a three-day visit to discuss potential pathways to peace.
Speaking from Kyiv's railway station, Kellogg pledged to "sit and listen" to Ukraine's concerns.
Zelensky extended an invitation to Kellogg to visit the front lines and witness the war's impact firsthand. He urged the envoy to engage directly with civilians and soldiers and to ask, "whether they trust their president, what they think of Putin, and what they think of Trump after his statements."
The diplomatic rift between Kyiv and Washington threatens to weaken Ukraine's position in any prospective peace talks while bolstering Moscow's narrative.
With no resolution in sight, the future of US-Ukraine relations hangs in the balance, as does the trajectory of the bloodiest conflict in Europe since World War II.
Also read: Russia-US talks conclude with no date set for Trump-Putin meeting
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