Germany Scholz defends Selenskyj against Trump's dictator accusation
Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz firmly rejects US President Donald Trump's claim that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi is a "dictator". "It is simply wrong and dangerous to deny President Zelenskyi democratic legitimacy," the SPD politician told Der Spiegel. "It is true that Volodymyr Zelensky is the elected head of state of Ukraine. The fact that no proper elections can be held in the middle of a war is in line with the Ukrainian constitution and electoral laws. No one should claim otherwise."
19.02.2025, 19:35
SDA
Scholz recalled that it was Russia under Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin that started the war in Ukraine almost three years ago. "Ukraine has been defending itself against a merciless Russian war of aggression for almost three years. Day after day," said Scholz.
On Wednesday, Trump called Zelensky a dictator in his online service Truth Social. "As a dictator without elections, Zelenskyi had better act fast or he will have no country left," the Republican wrote. In the meantime, negotiations with Russia over an end to the war would continue.
Putin himself had only recently discredited Zelensky as a negotiating partner and denied him legitimacy as Ukrainian president. Zelensky could not legally sign anything as his term of office had already expired. Ukrainian lawyers, on the other hand, believe that the extension of Zelensky's powers is covered by martial law. Western states also continue to recognize him as head of state.
