U.S. President Donald Trump doubled down on his criticism of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, saying again that he has done a terrible job and asserting that he could have attended talks with Russia this week in Saudi Arabia if he had wanted to.
Trump’s comments on February 19 at a meeting in Miami of business executives hosted by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund followed similar harsh criticism of Zelenskyy earlier in the day.
Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform that Zelenskyy was “A Dictator without Elections” and warned that he “better move fast or he is not going to have a Country left."
In his speech in Miami, he asserted that Zelenskyy was misusing American aid intended for the war effort and had taken advantage of President Joe Biden's administration.
Earlier on Truth Social he said: "Zelenskyy probably wants to keep the 'gravy train' going," apparently referring to Western aid.
Those comments appeared to be a response to Zelenskyy's charge that Trump "lives in this disinformation space” fostered by Moscow. “We have seen this disinformation," Zelenskyy said early on February 19. "We understand that it is coming from Russia.”
Zelenskyy made those comments after Trump seemed to blame him for Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, saying he was “disappointed” that Zelenskyy had complained about being frozen out of the U.S.-Russia talks on ending the war.
Zelenskyy reiterated his concerns over U.S.-Russian talks held in Saudi Arabia on ending Moscow's ongoing invasion of Ukraine launched almost three years ago.
He said that the previous day's high-level talks in Riyadh involving U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, were aimed at "taking [Russian President Vladimir] Putin out of isolation," and could potentially lead to a shift in the geopolitical dynamics, with implications for Ukraine's security.
"The United States helped Putin to get out of a multiyear isolation.... Putin and Russians are very happy about it," Zelenskyy said, adding that "yesterday there was a hint that Russia is a victim, which is something new."
Zelenskyy said when the talks were announced that Ukraine was not invited to take part.
Returning from Miami late on February 19, Trump told reporters on Air Force One that the Russians have "taken a lot of territory, so they have the cards" in negotiations on ending the war in Ukraine.
Trump, who pushed for the Riyadh talks as part of an effort bring the fighting to a close, responded to Zelenskyy's comments with the extensive social media post in which he again raised the lack of elections in Ukraine, echoing Putin.
SEE ALSO: U.S. Call For Elections In Ukraine: A Step Toward Peace Or A Gift To Putin?Ukraine has not been able to hold elections because it remains under martial law, which was imposed when Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022 and which has been repeatedly extended.
Zelenskyy's five-year term was due to end in May 2024 after elections in March, and Putin has said he would not negotiate with the Ukrainian president because he would not have the authority to sign a peace deal.
Some members of Congress said Trump’s comments were insulting to the thousands of Ukrainians who have died in the war.
Senator Richard Blumenthal (Democrat-Connecticut) said Trump had “disregarded the truth and the sacrifice of brave men and women who are upholding their freedom and ours. Their fight is our fight, and the president’s surrender is pathetic and weak.”
SEE ALSO: How Realistic Is A European Peace-Keeping Force In Ukraine?Senator Chris Coons (Democrat-Delaware) said other Republicans in the Senate know that Putin is not our partner. Trump risks becoming known as “the biggest loser of the 21st century” if he doesn’t demand Putin stop the war by threatening increased sanctions and even more weapons to Ukraine, Coons said on U.S. broadcaster MSNBC.
John Bolton, who served as Trump's national security-adviser during his first term in office, said Trump’s characterizations of Zelenskyy and Ukraine "are some of the most shameful remarks ever made by a US President." He added on X: "Our support of Ukraine has never been about charity, our way of life at home depends on our strength abroad."
Trump's remarks also drew condemnation from European leaders, including German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock. Scholz called the dictator accusation "wrong and dangerous," and Baerbock said the people in Europe who live "in the conditions of a dictatorship" are in Russia and Belarus.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance warned in an interview on February 19 with the Daily Mail that Zelenskyy's criticism of Trump would backfire.
"The idea that Zelenskyy is going to change the president's mind by badmouthing him in public media -- everyone who knows the president will tell you that is an atrocious way to deal with this administration," Vance said.