Trump escalates attacks on Zelenskyy, calling him a 'dictator'

European leaders have expressed anger and dismay after President Donald Trump labeled Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy “a dictator.”

The comments came during an address from President Trump in Miami on Wednesday. “Think of it, a modestly successful comedian, President Zelenskyy, talked the United States of America into spending 350 billion dollars into a war that basically couldn’t be won,” he said. “A dictator without elections, Zelenskyy better move fast or he’s not going to have a country left… that war is going in the wrong direction. In the meantime, we are successfully negotiating an end to the war with Russia.”

In a late night video posted to Zelenskyy’s social media, the Ukrainian President called for America and Europe to work together on a peace agreement. “Together with America and Europe, peace can be more secure; and that is our goal. And most importantly – this should be not only our goal, but a shared one with our partners,” he said.

Meanwhile, Russia carried out further strikes on civilian infrastructure in Odesa, leaving 250,000 Ukrainians without power on Wednesday. The drone strikes injured four people, including a child, and damaged a children’s clinic, a kindergarten, high-rise buildings, and multiple vehicles.