Donald Trump has labelled Volodymyr Zelensky a "dictator" and accused the Ukrainian President of "talking" the US into spending $350billion (£280billion) bankrolling an "unwinnable war".
In a scathing attack on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump went into a lengthy tirade about the "moderately successful" comedian.
The 232-word post appears to be the 47th President's strongest rebuke of Zelensky to date, marking a significant shift in opinion in Washington since Joe Biden's departure from the White House last month.
Russian President Vladimir Putin launched his invasion of the ex-Soviet state in February 2022, with the conflict raging on following annexations and heavy losses on both sides.
Volodymyr Zelensky and Donald Trump
REUTERS
Trump said: "Think of it, a modestly successful comedian, Volodymyr Zelensky, talked the United States of America into spending $350billion, to go into a war that couldn’t be won, that never had to start, but a war that he, without the US and 'TRUMP', will never be able to settle.
"The United States has spent $200billion (£160billion) more than Europe, and Europe’s money is guaranteed, while the United States will get nothing back.
"Why didn’t Sleepy Joe Biden demand equalisation, in that this war is far more important to Europe than it is to us — We have a big, beautiful Ocean as separation.
"On top of this, Zelensky admits that half of the money we sent him is 'MISSING'.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
Vehicles on fire, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in the Odesa region of UkraineReuters"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, Zelensky 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 Zelensky probably wants to keep the 'gravy train' going.
Vladimir PutinREUTERS"I love Ukraine, but Zelensky has done a terrible job, his country is shattered, and MILLIONS have unnecessarily died – And so it continues."
Trump, who entered the White House vowing to end the war between Russia and Ukraine within 24-hours, is spearheading efforts to bring peace to the region.
The 78-year-old last night said that Zelensky should have looked to secure peace sooner and agreed concessions with the Kremlin were needed to bring the conflict to an end.
Trump appears to have wrongfooted European leaders by taking a significantly different approach to his predecessor Biden.
Donald TrumpREUTERSToday's tirade comes just 24 hours after a US delegation met with Russian officials in Saudi Arabia.
Ukraine was not given a seat at the table, leaving Zelensky fuming about the ex-Soviet state not being represented in the first bilateral discussions since the 2022 invasion.
Ex-Prime Minister Boris Johnson also appeared to urge European leaders to do more to help Trump achieve peace in Ukraine.
Writing on social media, Johnson said: "When are we Europeans going to stop being scandalised about Donald Trump and start helping him to end this war?
"Of course Ukraine didn’t start the war. You might as well say that America attacked Japan at Pearl Harbor.
"Of course a country undergoing a violent invasion should not be staging elections. There was no general election in the UK from 1935 to 1945. Of course Zelensky’s ratings are not four per cent.
"They are actually about the same as Trump’s. Trump’s statements are not intended to be historically accurate but to shock Europeans into action."
The former US President also described Boris Johnson as a “friend” but warned the ex-Prime Minister became too liberal after entering Downing StreetPAHowever, Leader of the Opposition Kemi Badenoch rejected the suggestion that Zelensky is a "dictator".
She said: "President Zelenskyy is not a dictator. He is the democratically elected leader of Ukraine who bravely stood up to Putin’s illegal invasion.
"Under my leadership, and under successive Conservative Prime Ministers, we have and always will stand with Ukraine.
"President Trump is right that Europe needs to pull its weight - and that includes the UK. We need to get serious. The PM will have my support to increase defence spending - there is a fully funded plan to get to 2.5 per cent sitting on his desk.
"That should be the bare minimum. Starmer should get on with it, get on a plane to Washington and show some leadership. We cannot afford to get this wrong."
