Trump's remarks on Ukrainian president prompt backlash

By Merve Aydogan

HAMILTON, Canada (AA) - US Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer criticized US President Donald Trump for calling Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy a "dictator."

Describing Trump's remarks as "awful," Schumer, at opening remarks at the Senate, said: "It's disgusting to see an American president turn against one of our friends and openly side with a thug like (Russian President) Vladimir Putin."

"It's shameful to hear the president repeat Putin's propaganda while laying the groundwork negotiations that favor Russia at Ukraine's expense," he said.

Schumer emphasized that the war in Ukraine was instigated by Russia, not the Ukrainian people, who have "fought and died on the battlefield to defend their home."

- 'Ukraine did not start this war'

Former Vice President Mike Pence also weighed in, and wrote on X "Mr. President, Ukraine did not 'start' this war. Russia launched an unprovoked and brutal invasion, claiming hundreds of thousands of lives. The Road to Peace must be built on the Truth."

Trump on Wednesday called the Ukrainian leader a "dictator without elections" and warned that he “better move fast or he is not going to have a Country left.”

He posted on Truth Social hours after Zelenskyy hit back at his suggestion that Kyiv "should have never started" the war, saying the US president was living in a Russian "disinformation bubble."

Trump has advanced negotiations to end the three-year-long war in Ukraine, without the participation of Kyiv and other European governments.

He said Europe has failed to bring peace in Ukraine, and the US was successfully negotiating an end to the war.