Trump’s Attacks on Zelensky Spark Republican Pushback

President Donald Trump’s blistering attack on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has sparked backlash from a few Republican lawmakers and Mike Pence, his former vice president.

Trump had branded Zelensky a “dictator without elections,” after the Ukrainian leader warned that Trump was being influenced by Russian disinformation. The president also claimed Tuesday that Ukraine had “started the war.”

On Wednesday, a handful of GOP senators disagreed with Trump, saying that the only one to blame for the war was Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The Context

Tensions have been escalating between Trump and Zelensky. The U.S. president had promised to end the war in Ukraine within 24 hours of taking office while on the campaign trail.

Since the inauguration, Trump has spoken with Putin directly to discuss how to end the three-year conflict, and has promised to meet the Russian leader to continue peace negotiations. But Trump’s actions have sparked concerns that Ukraine and Europe are being sidelined in the peace talks.

On Tuesday, after the U.S. and Russia held discussions in Saudi Arabia without Ukrainian representatives, Trump accused Ukraine of starting the war: “Today I heard, ‘Oh, well, we weren’t invited’. Well, you’ve been there for three years. You should have ended it — three years. You should have never been there. You should have never started it.”

He also said—without citing evidence—that Zelensky’s approval rating was “down at 4 percent” and suggested Ukraine should hold elections, despite martial law preventing them under the country’s constitution.

Zelensky responded by accusing Trump of being influenced by Russian disinformation after his discussions with Putin.

“President Trump, with great respect for him as a leader of the people (…) unfortunately, lives in this disinformation space,” Zelensky said in a news conference on Wednesday.

What To Know

On Wednesday, Trump reacted to Zelensky’s calls for Trump’s team “to be more truthful” with a fiery Truth Social post, where he questioned U.S. financial support for Ukraine, and accused Zelensky of being a dictator.

“Think of it, a modestly successful comedian, Volodymyr Zelensky, talked the United States of America into spending $350 Billion Dollars, to go into a War that couldn’t be won, that never had to start,” Trump wrote. He also accused Zelensky of clinging to power, calling him a “dictator without elections” and saying he “has done a terrible job.”

Trump’s comments have sparked backlash across the globe, including pushback from some of his own party’s lawmakers and his former running mate.

“Mr. President, Ukraine did not “start” this war. Russia launched an unprovoked and brutal invasion claiming hundreds of thousands of lives,” Pence said in a post on X, formerly Twitter. “The Road to Peace must be built on the Truth.”

Louisiana U.S. Senator John Kennedy on Wednesday told CNN that he “disagrees” Ukraine was to blame for the war.

“I think Vladimir Putin started the war,” he said, adding that America’s job in the negotiations was to “to get a settlement that lifts up Ukraine, lifts up Europe, lifts up America and the West, and diminishes Vladimir Putin.”

U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina added that he puts the blame on Putin “above all others” for the war, rather than Ukraine, but said he still believes Trump “is Ukraine’s best hope to end this war honorably and justly.” He also said he thinks the president will achieve peace “in the Trump way.”

Alaska U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski told reporters at the Capitol on Wednesday that she “would certainly never refer to President Zelensky as a dictator.”

More of Trump’s Statement:

“The United States has spent $200 Billion Dollars more than Europe, and Europe’s money is guaranteed, while the United States will get nothing back. Why didn’t Sleepy Joe Biden demand Equalization, 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, Zelenskyy admits that half of the money we sent him is “MISSING.” 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, Zelenskyy 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 Zelenskyy probably wants to keep the “gravy train” going. I love Ukraine, but Zelenskyy has done a terrible job, his Country is shattered, and MILLIONS have unnecessarily died – And so it continues…..”

What People Are Saying

Maine U.S. Senator Susan Collins said on Wednesday: “I do not agree that President Zelensky is to blame in any way. This was a rogue invasion by Russia.”

U.S. Senator Eric Schmitt of Missouri told reporters: “I trust President Trump. He’s a master negotiator, and I think he’s going to get to a lasting peace. I’m not going to get into the tactics. President Trump is going to be able to deliver it.”

Zelensky said: “I would like Trump’s team to be more truthful. Because all of this certainly does not have a positive impact on Ukraine. But it does help bring Putin out of isolation.”

What Happens Next

Trump said he will “probably” meet Putin in Saudi Arabia in the “not-too-distant future.” Bloomberg reports the meeting could occur before the end of the month.

Zelensky is set to visit Saudi Arabia on March 10, where he is expected to discuss the Persian Gulf nation’s role in broader international efforts.