Czech president slams Trump’s 'cynical' labeling of Zelenskyy as a dictator

Czech President Petr Pavel has strongly criticized U.S. President Donald Trump for calling Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy “a dictator without elections,” calling the remark “a great deal of cynicism” given Ukraine’s ongoing war with Russia.

"What would be the value of an election in a country that has been resisting aggression from a neighboring nuclear power for three years?" Pavel wrote on X. "How can elections be organized when a fifth of the territory is occupied by Russian troops and the entire country is under daily shelling? Calling the president of such a country a dictator requires a great deal of cynicism."

Trump’s comments, posted on Truth Social, claimed Zelenskyy was unpopular among Ukrainians, had lost half of the U.S. aid sent to Ukraine, and was "a dictator without elections." He warned that Zelenskyy "better move fast, or he is not going to have a country left."

Ukraine has been under martial law since Russia’s invasion in February 2022, making elections legally impossible. The Ukrainian constitution and electoral laws prohibit voting during wartime.

Pavel emphasized that securing peace would require a well-armed Ukraine and eventual NATO membership, despite Russian opposition. "Ukraine should have a capable, well-equipped army. Even just with European support, we can ensure that in a relatively short period, with a view to Ukraine’s future NATO membership," he told Deník N.

He was skeptical of sending international peacekeeping troops to Ukraine, a proposal some European leaders have raised. "If these troops were to have a truly deterrent effect, they would need a combat mandate, which is unacceptable to Russia," Pavel said.

European leaders quickly condemned Trump’s remarks. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called it "wrong and dangerous" to question Zelenskyy’s democratic legitimacy, pointing out that elections during wartime are unconstitutional in Ukraine. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock dismissed Trump’s claim as "completely absurd," adding that the only real dictators in Europe are those ruling in Russia and Belarus.

Zelenskyy responded bluntly to Trump’s accusations, saying the U.S. president "lives in a disinformation space."