U.S. President Donald Trump has urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to act quickly in negotiating an end to Russia’s full-scale invasion or risk losing control of the country, according to The Associated Press on February 20.
Trump’s remarks come at a time of rising tensions between Washington and Europe, as well as ongoing exchanges of criticism between him and Zelenskyy.
Trump Blames Zelenskyy, Biden, and Europe
Reiterating his belief that Zelenskyy missed an earlier opportunity for peace talks, Trump warned: "Zelenskyy better move fast or he is not going to have a country left."
He further claimed that only his administration could end the war, criticizing both President Joe Biden and European nations for their failures: "Biden never tried, Europe has failed to bring peace, and Zelenskyy probably wants to keep the ‘gravy train’ going."
Trump’s attacks on Zelenskyy have sparked backlash from both Democrats and some Republicans, as support for Ukraine’s defense against Russia had previously been bipartisan.
In response, Zelenskyy accused Trump of falling for Russian disinformation, prompting Vice President JD Vance to caution against publicly challenging the U.S. administration.
Trump, who has advocated for a peace deal favoring Moscow, later took to Truth Social to further criticize Zelenskyy, calling him a "dictator without elections."
His comments escalated tensions further when he repeated the accusations during a speech in Miami, hosted by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund.
Trump accused Zelenskyy of misusing U.S. aid intended for Ukraine’s war effort, alleging that the Ukrainian leader had taken advantage of the Biden administration.
U.S. Lawmakers Condemn Trump’s Remarks
Senate leaders have expressed concern over Trump’s stance.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer denounced Trump’s remarks, calling it "disgusting" to side with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Republican Senator John Kennedy rejected Trump’s claim that Ukraine was to blame for the war, reaffirming that Russia initiated the invasion.
Amid the escalating rhetoric, Ukrainian officials recently met in Kyiv with retired U.S. Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, Trump’s special envoy to Ukraine and Russia.
During the meeting, Kellogg emphasized the urgency of ending the war and addressing its humanitarian toll.
