DONALD Trump has branded Volodymyr Zelenskyy a “dictator” amid an escalating war of words between the American president and his Ukrainian counterpart.
In a post on his Truth Social network, Trump said Zelenskyy had “better move fast or he is not going to have a country left”.
The pair have been trading blows after Trump shocked Ukraine and his Nato allies by announcing he would hold peace talks with Russia to end the war – with Kyiv and other European nations excluded.
Hitting back at earlier comments from Trump, after the US president said his counterpart’s approval ratings were plummeting, Zelenskyy accused the Republican of inhabiting a “disinformation space” created by Russia.
Trump (above) had claimed that Zelenskyy’s approval rating stood at 4%.
In a lengthy social media rant, Trump said: “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, that never had to start, but a War that he, without the U.S. and 'TRUMP,' will never be able to settle.”
Trump complained that while European funding for the war was “guaranteed” the US would “get nothing back”.
He added: “On top of this, Zelenskyy admits that half of the money we sent him is ‘MISSING.’
“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.
“In the meantime, we are successfully negotiating an end to the War with Russia, something all admit only ‘TRUMP,’ and the Trump Administration, can do. Biden never tried, Europe has failed to bring Peace, and Zelenskyy probably wants to keep the "gravy train" going.”
It comes after Trump blamed Kyiv for the war starting and previous criticisms for imposing martial law and suspending elections.
Zelenskyy’s comments came shortly before he was due to meet Keith Kellogg, the US special envoy for Ukraine and Russia.
Elsewhere, Russian president Vladimir Putin (above) has said he would “like to have a meeting” with Trump, the day after their two top foreign affairs teams met in Saudi Arabia to lay the groundwork for peace talks.
America has indicated that both sides would need to make concessions to ensure a lasting peace.
In televised remarks on Wednesday, Putin said the preliminary talks had been “very positive”, adding: “Without increasing the level of trust between Russia and the United States, it is impossible to resolve many issues, including the Ukrainian crisis.
“The goal of this meeting was precisely to increase trust between Russia and the United States.”
The battlefield has also brought grim news for Ukraine in recent months.
A relentless onslaught in eastern areas by Russia’s bigger army is grinding down Ukrainian forces, which are slowly but steadily being pushed backward at some points on the 600-mile (1000km) front line.
Zelenskyy cancelled his planned Wednesday trip to Saudi Arabia in what some analysts saw as an attempt to deny legitimacy to the US-Russia talks about the future of his country.
American officials have signalled that Ukraine’s hopes of joining Nato in order to ward off Russian aggression after reaching a possible peace agreement will not happen.
Zelenskyy has said any settlement will require US security commitments to keep Russia at bay.
“We understand the need for security guarantees,” Kellogg said in comments carried by Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne Novyny on his arrival at Kyiv railway station.
“It’s very clear to us the importance of the sovereignty of this nation and the independence of this nation as well … Part of my mission is to sit and listen,” the retired three-star general said.
He said he will convey what he learns on his visit to Trump and secretary of state Marco Rubio “and ensure that we get this one right”.
