U.S. President Donald Trump ignited a firestorm on April 14, 2025, claiming Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is responsible for “millions” of deaths in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, now in its third year since February 2022.
Speaking at a Mar-a-Lago press conference, Trump called Zelensky “a failed leader” who “could’ve negotiated peace” to avert the war, which independent estimates, including from the UN, peg at 600,000 combined military and civilian deaths. “Zelensky’s ego cost millions—way more than Russia’s share,” Trump said, offering no evidence for the inflated figure.
The remarks drew sharp rebukes from Kyiv, where Zelensky labeled them “divisive propaganda,” noting Ukraine’s 57% approval rating for his leadership, per a Kyiv International Institute of Sociology poll. U.S. lawmakers, including Senator Lindsey Graham, criticized Trump’s stance, citing Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 as the conflict’s root.
Trump’s comments align with Kremlin narratives questioning Zelensky’s legitimacy, though Putin’s forces face war crime probes by the International Criminal Court. With 8 million Ukrainians displaced, per UNHCR, the war’s toll dominates global headlines. Trump’s allies defended his push for diplomacy, but critics argue it undermines Ukraine’s fight, as NATO pledges $40 billion in 2025 aid.