Trump calls Zelensky a "dictator"... Chaos in US Republicans and foreign media criticism

The U.S. Pushes for Ceasefire Talks with Russia, Excluding Ukraine
Trump Launches Blunt Attacks on Zelensky, Calling Him a "Comedian" and Claiming "4% Approval Rating"
Harsh Criticism... Trump Shows Discomfort with Zelensky's Remarks Criticizing the U.S.

Donald Trump, the President of the United States, has continued to launch harsh criticisms against Volodymyr Zelensky, the President of Ukraine, calling him a "dictator" and a "comedian" for two consecutive days starting from the 18th (local time). Even within the U.S. Republican Party, there have been criticisms expressing disagreement with Trump's remarks. Foreign media also pointed out that Trump's stance, which seems to lean toward Russia, has complicated the resolution of the Russia-Ukraine war.

On the 19th, President Trump criticized President Zelensky on his social media platform Truth Social, saying, "He refuses elections and shows very low approval ratings in Ukrainian polls, and the only thing he is good at is playing with former President Joe Biden." He warned, "The dictator Zelensky, who has not held elections, will have to hurry. Otherwise, he will lose his country," suggesting that the U.S. might withdraw support for Ukraine. He also claimed that Ukraine has made the U.S. spend "350 billion dollars, which is 200 billion more than Europe."

On the previous day, the 18th, Trump criticized Zelensky for not holding elections based on martial law, saying, "The approval rating of the Ukrainian leader has dropped to 4%." This came shortly after Zelensky, who had maintained a 'low key' mode since the start of Trump's second term, expressed strong dissatisfaction with peace negotiations that excluded Ukraine. When Zelensky appeared on local TV and said, "President Trump lives in a space of misinformation (regarding the 4% approval rating comment)" and "We cannot sell our country (regarding the U.S. demand for a 50% stake in Ukraine's rare earths)," he was interpreted as showing discomfort with Trump's remarks.

The U.S. Wall Street Journal (WSJ) pointed out that Trump's remarks are similar to Russia's position, stating, "This could make resolving the Ukraine war even more complicated." Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, who regards Zelensky as a thorn in his side, has demanded that Ukraine hold elections banned under Ukrainian law. Putin has claimed that Zelensky's term expires in 2024, so "this is illegal." Russia has also insisted that it will not sign a peace agreement until Ukraine agrees to hold elections.

Within the Republican Party, there is confusion over Trump's remarks, which seem to shift the blame for the war onto Ukraine. Representative Don Bacon criticized, via his social media, "President Putin started this war and committed war crimes. He is a dictator who kills opponents."

Senator Pete Ricketts also stated on X (formerly Twitter), "Ukraine definitely did not start this war," and "It is a fact that Russia invaded Ukraine and must be held accountable." Senator John Kennedy signaled disagreement with Trump's remarks about President Zelensky, calling President Putin a "gangster" and a "vicious person."

The U.S. political media outlet Politico noted that Trump's recent remarks have "confused Republican supporters of Ukraine." The New York Post also reported that "Trump's remarks have caused negative reactions among European allies and some U.S. Republicans," adding that "there is an opinion that Ukraine's postponement of elections due to wartime conditions is justified."

Domestic public opinion also shows signs of division. On Reddit, the largest online community in the U.S., opinions about Trump's attitude toward Ukraine are sharply divided. Among the most popular posts, there are opinions stating "President Trump criticized Ukraine's fraud" and others questioning "Is Trump's 'dictator' remark about President Zelensky accurate?" Comments on these posts are also sharply opposed. Supportive comments for Trump expressed strong agreement with the view that "the U.S. should stop supporting Ukraine." On the other hand, opposing comments argued, "It is absurd to call President Zelensky a 'dictator' while standing next to President Vladimir Putin and President Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus." Currently, 72-year-old President Putin has been in power for about 24 years, and 70-year-old President Lukashenko has served for about 30 years.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.