Former U.S. President Donald Trump has intensified his criticism of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, accusing him of misleading the United States into spending $350 billion on an unwinnable war. Trump referred to Zelenskyy as a "modestly successful comedian" who convinced the U.S. to invest heavily in Ukraine's conflict with Russia. 

In his remarks, Trump labeled Zelenskyy a "dictator without elections," highlighting Ukraine's suspension of elections under martial law since the Russian invasion in 2022. He also suggested that Zelenskyy mismanaged U.S. aid, claiming that half of the funds provided were unaccounted for. 

These comments come as the Trump administration seeks to negotiate a peace deal with Russia, aiming to resolve the ongoing conflict. Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed interest in these discussions, while Zelenskyy has criticized Trump's approach, accusing him of being influenced by Russian disinformation. 

The strained relations between the U.S. and Ukraine have raised concerns among European allies, especially regarding the future of security guarantees for Ukraine and its potential NATO membership. French President Emmanuel Macron emphasized the existential threat Russia poses to Europe and criticized the exclusion of Eastern European countries from emergency talks.