Coverage dated February 17, 2025 to February 18, 2025

Trump calls Ukraine's Zelenskyy a 'dictator,' escalating a spat between the leaders

Headline from NBC New York

Trump's post included a number of inaccuracies and attempted to reset relations with Russia by holding high-level talks on ending the war in Ukraine.

NBC New York's own description from its feed. We collect headlines and these descriptions, not full articles; read the original reporting below.

Earlier updates in this story

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Reports & sources

32 articles, oldest first.

  1. Washington Examiner

    Trump knocks Zelensky over Russian invasion (opens Washington Examiner)

    Published

    Washington Examiner's feed description

    President Donald Trump criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's approval ratings and lack of election in Ukraine during a press conference.

  2. NBC New York

    Trump calls Ukraine's Zelenskyy a 'dictator,' escalating a spat between the leaders (opens NBC New York)

    Published

    NBC New York's feed description

    Trump's post included a number of inaccuracies and attempted to reset relations with Russia by holding high-level talks on ending the war in Ukraine.

  3. New York Post

    Trump rips Ukraine’s Zelensky as ‘dictator without elections’ (opens New York Post)

    Published

    New York Post's feed description

    President Trump bashed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as a "dictator without elections" in a blazing rant Wednesday, one day after an American delegation met with Russian officials in Saudi Arabia.

  4. The Conversation US

    In pushing for Ukraine elections, Trump is falling into Putin-laid trap to delegitimize Zelenskyy (opens The Conversation US)

    Published

    The Conversation US's feed description

    Ukraine’s leader and opposition leaders have said ‘no’ to elections during wartime – and they have the backing of the majority of Ukrainians.

  5. Rolling Stone

    Trump Sides With Putin, Trashes Zelensky as a 'Dictator' (opens Rolling Stone)

    Published

    Rolling Stone's feed description

    Donald Trump called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky a "dictator" as the U.S. begins "peace talks" with Russia.

  6. KVIA El Paso

    Trump falsely calls Zelensky ‘a dictator’ after Ukraine’s leader accuses him of living in ‘disinformation space’ (opens KVIA El Paso)

    Published

    KVIA El Paso's feed description

    By Ivana Kottasová, Kostya Gak and Svitlana Vlasova, CNN (CNN) — US President Donald Trump falsely called Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky “a dictator,” escalating a public war of words between the two leaders that started when Trump falsely accused Ukraine of starting the war with Russia.

  7. MyNorthwest

    Trump calls Zelenskyy a 'dictator' as tensions rise between the leaders over the Russia-Ukraine war (opens MyNorthwest)

    Published

    MyNorthwest's feed description

    MIAMI (AP) — President Donald Trump on Wednesday called Volodymyr Zelenskyy a “dictator without elections,” lashing out after the Ukrainian president said

  8. The Economist

    Team Trump wants to get rid of Volodymyr Zelensky (opens The Economist)

    Published

    The Economist's feed description

    America’s president calls Ukraine’s president “a dictator” | Europe

  9. KESQ Palm Springs

    Trump calls Zelensky ‘a dictator’ after Ukraine’s leader accuses him of living in ‘disinformation space’ (opens KESQ Palm Springs)

    Published

    KESQ Palm Springs's feed description

    By Ivana Kottasová, Kostya Gak and Svitlana Vlasova, CNN (CNN) — US President Donald Trump called Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky “a dictator,” escalating a public war of words between the two leaders that started when Trump falsely accused Ukraine of starting the war with Russia.

  10. Newsweek

    Donald Trump says Zelensky 'dictator' without elections (opens Newsweek)

    Published

    Newsweek's feed description

    In a Truth Social post on Wednesday, Trump called Zelensky a "dictator" due to the lack of elections in the war-torn country.

  11. Blaze Media

    Trump delivers scathing remarks about 'dictator' Zelenskyy as peace-talk tensions rise (opens Blaze Media)

    Published

    Blaze Media's feed description

    'I love Ukraine, but Zelenskyy has done a terrible job.'

  12. CBS News

    Trump calls Zelenskyy a "dictator" after blaming Ukraine for Russia (opens CBS News)

    Published

    CBS News's feed description

    "A Dictator without Elections, Zelenskyy better move fast or he is not going to have a Country left," President Trump wrote.

  13. Deutsche Welle

    Ukraine updates: Trump calls Zelenskyy a 'dictator' – DW (opens Deutsche Welle)

    Published

    Deutsche Welle's feed description

    The US and Ukrainian presidents took swipes at each other with Volodymyr Zelenskyy saying Donald Trump lived in Russian "disinformation space," and Trump calling Zelenskyy a "dictator." DW has more.

  14. The American Conservative

    Trump: Zelensky a ‘Dictator’ (opens The American Conservative)

    Published

    The American Conservative's feed description

    State of the Union: The Ukrainian president accused his American counterpart of living “in a disinformation space.”

  15. Fox News

    GOP senators back Trump's demand for Ukraine elections, but won't call Zelenskyy 'dictator' (opens Fox News)

    Published

    Fox News's feed description

    Republican senators are supportive of President Donald Trump's demand for Ukraine to hold elections, though GOP lawmakers won't go so far as to call Ukrainian President Zelenskyy a 'dictator,' as Trump did.

  16. The Republic

    The Latest: Tensions rise between Trump and Zelenskyy, Pence criticizes Trump's Ukraine comments (opens The Republic)

    Published

    The Republic's feed description

    By The Associated Press President Donald Trump on Wednesday called Volodymyr Zelenskyy a “dictator without elections,” lashing out after the Ukrainian president said Trump was being influenced by Russian disinformation as he moves to end the Kremlin’s war against Ukraine on terms that Kyiv says are …

  17. Digital Journal

    Trump brands Zelensky 'a dictator' (opens Digital Journal)

    Published

    Digital Journal's feed description

    US President Donald Trump called Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky a "dictator" Wednesday, widening a personal rift with major implications for efforts

  18. Time

    Trump Calls Zelensky a 'Dictator' Amid Russia-Ukraine War (opens Time)

    Published

    Time's feed description

    President Donald Trump on Wednesday called Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky a “dictator without elections."

  19. Al Jazeera

    ‘Dictator’: Trump feuds with Zelenskyy amid negotiations over Ukraine war (opens Al Jazeera)

    Published

    Al Jazeera's feed description

    In a social media post, Trump accused Zelenskyy of profiting from the US ‘gravy train’ and avoiding wartime elections.

  20. Legitgov

  21. Breitbart News

    President Trump Blasts Zelensky: 'A Dictator Without Elections’ (opens Breitbart News)

    Published

    Breitbart News's feed description

    Donald Trump torched Volodymyr Zelesnksy as a "Dictator without Elections" a day after Zelensky complained about Ukraine not having a seat at diplomatic talks between the United States and Russia on Tuesday.

  22. Fox News

    Trump calls Ukraine's Zelenskyy a 'dictator without elections' as rift widens (opens Fox News)

    Published

    Fox News's feed description

    President Donald Trump deems Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy a “dictator without elections" as the U.S. works with Russia on a peace deal.

Identical headlines usually mean shared wire copy. They are counted as separate articles but are not independent confirmation.