**Trump Accuses Zelensky of Being a Dictator**
US President Donald Trump has called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky a “dictator” on his social media platform Truth Social. Trump claimed that Zelensky refused to hold elections and was low in the polls.
However, a recent poll by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology showed that 57% of Ukrainians trust Zelensky, a five-point increase since December. This contradicts Trump’s claim that Zelensky is unpopular.
**Kremlin Propaganda**
The Kremlin has been spreading propaganda about Zelensky being an illegitimate leader, claiming that his first presidential term was supposed to end on May 20, 2024. However, Ukraine’s constitution prohibits elections during martial law, which has been in effect since Russia’s invasion began in 2022.
**Trump’s Claims**
Trump also claimed that the US had spent $350 billion on Ukraine and that Zelensky was a “modestly successful comedian”. He accused Zelensky of persuading the US to spend this amount. However, earlier on February 19, Zelensky said that Ukraine’s wartime military costs had totaled $320 billion, with the US and EU providing $200 billion in defense support.
**Zelensky Responds**
In response to Trump’s claims, Zelensky called them disinformation and said they came from Russia. He also addressed Trump’s previous claim of a 4% approval rating, saying that this was also a result of Russian disinformation.
**Growing Concerns in Kyiv**
There are growing concerns in Kyiv after US and Russian officials met in Saudi Arabia to discuss strategies for ending the war without Ukraine’s involvement. Zelensky said that the US had effectively helped Russian President Vladimir Putin escape years of isolation.