Trump calls Zelensky a ‘dictator’ as he hits back at ‘disinformation’ criticism

Donald Trump launches a fresh attack on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, calling him a “dictator” and saying he has done a “terrible job.”

Trump also accuses Zelensky of “refusing to have elections.” BBC Verify, fact-checking the claim, states that Ukraine has been under martial law since Russia invaded in February 2022, meaning elections are suspended.

Zelensky earlier accused the US president of “living in a disinformation space” created by Russia following US-Moscow talks in Saudi Arabia, from which Kyiv was excluded.

Asked by the BBC how he would respond to Ukrainians who felt “betrayed” over not having a seat at the table, Trump said Ukraine “could have made a deal” earlier.

Russian President Vladimir Putin later said “nobody is excluding Ukraine” from talks on ending the war.