Trump-Zelenskyy Rift Could Impact Ukraine-Russia Peace Talks

Trump and Zelenskyy exchange sharp words as U.S.-Russia peace talks exclude Ukraine.

Key Takeaways

U.S. President Donald Trump called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy a “dictator” amid rising tensions over Ukraine peace negotiations.
Trump claims only he can end the Ukraine-Russia conflict, criticizing U.S. spending on Ukraine and Zelenskyy’s leadership.
Zelenskyy accuses Trump of spreading Russian disinformation and warns against excluding Ukraine from peace talks.
U.S. officials met with Russian counterparts in Saudi Arabia to discuss ending the conflict, without Ukraine’s presence.
The exchange highlights potential shifts in U.S. policy on Ukraine and concerns among European leaders about being sidelined in peace negotiations.

Trump’s Accusations and Claims

President Donald Trump has escalated tensions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, referring to him as a “dictator” and criticizing his leadership. Trump accused Zelenskyy of involving the United States in an unwinnable war and misusing American funds. He claimed that the U.S. has spent $200 billion more on Ukraine than Europe has.

Trump asserted that only he and his administration could negotiate an end to the war with Russia, pledging to resolve the conflict during his presidential run. He also suggested that Ukraine could have ended the war sooner by making a deal, implying that Zelenskyy’s refusal to do so has prolonged the conflict.

President Trump blasts Ukrainian President Zelenskyy as a "dictator without elections" after the U.S. left Ukraine out of initial peace talks with Russia this week. pic.twitter.com/Mi2JNtjdYd

— Fox News (@FoxNews) February 19, 2025

Zelenskyy’s Response and Concerns

Zelenskyy countered Trump’s claims, accusing the former U.S. president of spreading Russian disinformation. He emphasized the need for Ukraine’s involvement in peace negotiations and expressed concern over the country’s exclusion from recent talks in Saudi Arabia. Zelenskyy postponed a planned trip to Saudi Arabia after learning that Ukraine wasn’t invited to the U.S.-Russia discussions.

The Ukrainian leader warned that Trump’s outreach to Russia could embolden Russian aggression. He also refuted Trump’s claims about Ukraine’s role in starting the war and challenged assertions about his own approval ratings, which have been contradicted by recent surveys.

Diplomatic Implications

The conflict between Trump and Zelenskyy has deeper roots, including Trump’s past demands for investigations into Joe Biden and his son with their links to Ukraine. This latest exchange has significant diplomatic implications, potentially signaling shifts in U.S. policy towards Ukraine if Trump were to return to office.

European leaders have expressed concern about being sidelined in peace talks. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer have defended Zelenskyy’s democratic legitimacy and the suspension of elections during wartime, pushing back against Trump’s characterization of Zelenskyy as a dictator.

U.S.-Russia Negotiations and Ukraine’s Exclusion

The recent meeting between U.S. officials and their Russian counterparts in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, has further complicated the diplomatic landscape. These talks, aimed at discussing ways to end the conflict, notably excluded Ukraine, straining relations between Washington and Kyiv. The negotiations also included plans to restore diplomatic functions in Washington and Moscow.