US President Donald Trump has launched a blistering attack on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, calling him a “dictator without elections” and accusing him of prolonging the Russia-Ukraine war to sustain the flow of American military aid.

In a series of posts on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump criticised Zelenskyy for failing to hold elections and claimed that the Ukrainian leader was “very low in Ukrainian polls.”

He further alleged that the former comedian-turned-president had manipulated US support under the Biden administration.

“He refuses to have elections, is very low in Ukrainian Polls, and the only thing he was good at was playing Biden ‘like a fiddle.’ A Dictator without Elections, Zelenskyy better move fast, or he is not going to have a country left,” Trump wrote.

Zelenskyy responds to Trump’s claims

The remarks came hours after Zelenskyy accused Trump of being caught in a “Russian disinformation bubble” and dismissed claims about his declining popularity. Speaking to Ukrainian media, the president said any suggestion that his approval rating stood at four per cent was part of a Russian misinformation campaign.

“The statements about my approval rating at four per cent are Russian disinformation. Trump is trapped in this disinformation bubble,” he asserted.

Zelenskyy further called on Trump’s team to rely on facts rather than narratives pushed by Moscow, reiterating that no decision regarding the war could be taken without Ukraine’s involvement.

US-Russia talks trigger diplomatic row

High-level US-Russia talks in Riyadh on Tuesday, which aimed to explore a path toward ending the ongoing conflict, preceded the verbal war between the two leaders. The discussions, which took place without Ukraine’s participation, drew sharp criticism from Kyiv.

Zelenskyy, reacting to the development, postponed his planned visit to Saudi Arabia, stating that he would not give legitimacy to a process that excludes Ukraine.

“We want no one to decide anything behind our backs... No decision can be made without Ukraine on how to end the war in Ukraine,” he said.

Trump slams Zelenskyy’s leadership

During a separate speech at an investment summit in Miami, Trump intensified his criticism, accusing Zelenskyy of leading Ukraine into an unwinnable war and reaping benefits from ongoing Western military aid.

“Think of it, a modestly successful comedian, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, talked the United States of America into spending $350 billion, to go into a war that couldn’t be won, that never had to start,” Trump remarked.

The US president also suggested that Zelenskyy was reluctant to negotiate peace due to ongoing American financial and military assistance.

“Zelenskyy probably wants to keep the ‘gravy train’ going. I love Ukraine, but Zelenskyy has done a terrible job, his country is shattered, and millions have unnecessarily died – And so it continues,” he added.

Tensions rise over Ukraine’s stalled elections

Trump’s reference to Zelenskyy as a “dictator without elections” comes amid growing international scrutiny over Ukraine’s postponed presidential elections. Originally scheduled for April 2024, the polls were delayed due to the ongoing war, with Ukrainian officials citing security concerns.

While Zelenskyy maintains that elections cannot be held under martial law, his critics, including Trump, have questioned the legitimacy of his continued presidency.

The escalating rhetoric underscores growing divisions between the US and Ukraine as diplomatic efforts to end the war continue. Washington and Moscow have recently appointed teams to work toward a resolution, but Ukraine remains skeptical of any deal negotiated without its direct involvement.

Zelenskyy has repeatedly dismissed the notion of a negotiated settlement that concedes territory to Russia, stating that the Ukrainian people overwhelmingly reject such proposals.