The political divide over the ongoing Ukraine-Russia conflict has deepened, with world leaders rushing to defend Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky after US President Donald Trump labeled him a “dictator without elections.” Trump’s comments, made in a post on his Truth Social platform on February 19, reignited discussions over Ukraine’s political legitimacy, wartime governance, and the role of Western nations in the ongoing war.

Trump’s criticism of Zelensky centered around the Ukrainian leader’s refusal to hold elections, citing martial law as justification for postponing the country’s presidential vote. Trump accused Zelensky of mismanaging the war effort, misusing American financial aid, and clinging to power despite plummeting approval ratings among Ukrainians.

In his post, Trump stated, “Zelensky refuses to have elections, and he is very low in Ukrainian polls. He is taking billions in American taxpayer dollars with no oversight, while failing to make significant progress against Russia.” These remarks come amid growing skepticism within Republican circles over continued US financial and military support for Ukraine, as Trump’s influence over his party remains strong ahead of the 2024 US presidential election.

Trump’s post was apparently prompted by Zelensky’s earlier remark that the former US president was trapped in a “Russian information bubble,” a veiled accusation that Trump is unduly influenced by Russian narratives about Ukraine’s political situation.

Zelensky’s presidential term officially expired in May 2024, yet he has continued to govern under the emergency powers of martial law, enacted after Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. Ukrainian........

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