UPDATE - Trump's remarks on Ukrainian president prompt backlash

ADDS MORE REACTIONS

By Merve Aydogan

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

Describing Trump's remarks as "awful," Schumer said during his opening remarks at the Senate that "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 added.

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 US Vice President Mike Pence also weighed in.

"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," he wrote on X.

Former National Security Adviser John Bolton described Trump's comments on Zelenskyy and Ukraine as "some of the most shameful remarks ever made by a US President."

"Our support of Ukraine has never been about charity, our way of life at home depends on our strength abroad," Bolton wrote on X.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune was asked about Trump's remarks during a news conference.

"Well, like I said, the president speaks for himself," he replied.

"What I want to see is a peaceful result, a peaceful outcome. And I think right now there's a negotiation going on. And let’s see where that ultimately leads. Hopefully, we’ll get to the outcome we all want to see.”

US Congressman Don Bacon of Nebraska also commented on the matter, saying "Putin started this war."

"Putin committed war crimes. Putin is the dictator who murdered his opponents. The EU nations have contributed more to Ukraine," he said, noting that Zelenskyy "polls over 50%."

Bacon also argued that "Ukraine wants to be part of the West, Putin hates the West. I don’t accept George Orwell’s doublethink."

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

He posted on his Truth Social platform 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 to Ukraine and the US was successfully negotiating an end to the war.