British political figures have strongly condemned Donald Trump after the former US president labelled Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky “a dictator without elections.”
The remark, posted on Mr Trump’s social media platform, TruthSocial, accused Mr Zelensky of failing to hold elections and warned him to “move fast or he is not going to have a country left.” The claim has sparked widespread backlash, with UK politicians across the spectrum rejecting Mr Trump’s characterisation of the Ukrainian leader.
‘Zelensky is not a dictator’
Kemi Badenoch, the Business and Trade Secretary, was among those who criticised Mr Trump’s assertion, stating:
“President Zelensky is not a dictator. He is the democratically elected leader of Ukraine who bravely stood up to Putin’s illegal invasion. Under my leadership, and under successive Conservative prime ministers, we have and always will stand with Ukraine.”
While acknowledging Mr Trump’s argument that Europe should contribute more to its own defence, Ms Badenoch called on Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to take a stronger stance, urging him to “get on a plane to Washington and show some leadership.”
Sir Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats, was even more forceful in his condemnation, describing Mr Trump’s comments as a dangerous turning point.
“It is my sincere hope that the whole political spectrum in the United Kingdom will speak with one voice in opposition to Trump’s lies. This must be where the line is drawn.”
Downing Street has yet to formally respond to Mr Trump’s remarks, as Sir Keir prepares for a diplomatic visit to Washington next week. The trip will focus on maintaining strong UK-US ties while ensuring continued support for Ukraine.
Healey: ‘We must not forget the war’
Earlier in the day, Defence Secretary John Healey also rebuffed Mr Trump’s claims about Ukraine’s role in the war. Addressing reporters during a visit to Norway, Mr Healey pushed back against a previous assertion by Mr Trump that Ukraine had started the conflict.
“Three years ago, one country illegally invaded another, and since then, the Ukrainians have been fighting for their freedom.
“They’ve been fighting for their future, and they still are. So whilst all the focus may be on talks, not even negotiations, our concern as defence ministers is that we’re not jeopardising the peace by forgetting about the war.”
Mr Healey met with Norwegian Defence Minister Tore Sandvik to discuss European security and reiterated the importance of keeping pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“Maximum pressure on Putin is going to mean the maximum chance that he will negotiate seriously.”
Trump’s attack on Zelensky sparks global reaction
The row between Mr Trump and Mr Zelensky has intensified in recent days, following reports that the US and Russia have begun private discussions about ending the war—without Ukrainian representation.
Mr Zelensky, angered by his exclusion from the talks, accused Mr Trump of operating in a “disinformation space.” In response, Mr Trump claimed Ukraine “should never have started” the war and “could have made a deal.”
Critics have accused Mr Trump of echoing Kremlin propaganda, particularly after he falsely stated that Mr Zelensky had an approval rating of just 4%. The Ukrainian president was elected in May 2019 with a significant mandate, and while elections were scheduled for 2024, they were postponed due to martial law.
Boris Johnson defends Trump
Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who was in office when Russia invaded Ukraine, came to Mr Trump’s defence—albeit in a typically unconventional fashion.
Writing on X (formerly Twitter), Mr Johnson suggested that Mr Trump’s inflammatory remarks were intended to push European leaders into action rather than reflect historical accuracy.
“Of course Ukraine didn’t start the war. You might as well say that America attacked Japan at Pearl Harbour.
“Of course a country undergoing a violent invasion should not be staging elections. There was no general election in the UK from 1935 to 1945.
“Of course Zelensky’s ratings are not 4%. They are actually about the same as Trump’s.”
Mr Johnson’s remarks have drawn criticism, with some accusing him of trying to justify Mr Trump’s misleading rhetoric.
US-Russia talks leave Ukraine and Europe sidelined
The escalating war of words comes amid secretive diplomatic talks between Washington and Moscow, held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, earlier this week. The negotiations, led by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, focused on establishing ground rules for future peace discussions. However, Ukraine was not invited to participate, nor were any European nations.
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This exclusion has alarmed European leaders, who fear being sidelined in decisions that could shape the continent’s security for years to come. Sir Keir Starmer, alongside other European leaders, attended an emergency meeting in Paris earlier this week to discuss a coordinated response.
During the summit, the Prime Minister urged Mr Trump to commit to a “backstop” that would prevent any agreement between Kyiv and Moscow from being dictated solely by Washington and the Kremlin.
UK to consider peacekeeping troops
As part of Britain’s commitment to Ukraine, the UK is considering sending peacekeeping troops to monitor any future ceasefire. However, Mr Trump dismissed the idea of US forces being involved, stating on Tuesday that America would not “have to” deploy soldiers in Ukraine.
With tensions continuing to rise, both in the war zone and among Western allies, Britain faces a delicate balancing act—supporting Ukraine while maintaining crucial diplomatic relations with Washington.
As Sir Keir prepares to meet Mr Trump in the coming days, the Prime Minister will need to carefully navigate the complex political landscape, ensuring that Ukraine’s future is decided by those fighting for it, rather than by external powers operating behind closed doors.
