President Donald Trump’s recent remarks labeling Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky a “dictator” and suggesting he should face elections before any peace deal with Russia has thrown Washington into a political tailspin. The statement, which represents a dramatic shift in U.S. policy toward the war, has left lawmakers—particularly Republicans—scrambling to define the administration’s new stance.
Some Republican senators, particularly longtime Russia hawks, remain steadfast in their condemnation of Vladimir Putin. Senator John Kennedy (R-La.) did not mince words, calling the Russian president “a gangster with a black heart” and comparing him to Josef Stalin. Senator Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, went even further, declaring on CNN that “Putin is a war criminal who should be in jail for the rest of his life, if not executed.”
I spoke with U.S. Senator @LindseyGrahamSC . We greatly appreciate the bicameral and bipartisan support of the US Congress to the Ukrainian people in our fight against the Russian aggression.
As always, Senator Graham is constructive and doing a lot to help bring peace closer.…
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) February 19, 2025
But others in Trump’s party are aligning with his call for Zelensky to face elections, echoing Moscow’s long-standing demand. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), a close Trump ally, emerged from a Republican Senate luncheon saying, “We need elections in Ukraine. Soon.” Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) backed the idea as well, pointing out that both the U.S. and Britain held elections during World War II. “They’re a democracy. They should hold elections,” he said. “I’m concerned they haven’t held an election in a long time, and we are funding their government.”
Zelensky, who declared martial law in 2022 after Russia’s invasion, had postponed Ukraine’s scheduled 2024 elections due to the war. Trump’s comments, however, have now put him on the defensive. In an apparent attempt to smooth over tensions, Zelensky reached out to Graham for a phone call, later posting on X that he “greatly appreciates” U.S. support and emphasizing that security guarantees must remain central to any peace deal.
Meanwhile, Vice President JD Vance made clear that Zelensky’s strategy of publicly criticizing Trump is backfiring. “The idea that Zelensky is going to change the president’s mind by bad-mouthing him in public media—everyone who knows the president will tell you that is an atrocious way to deal with this administration,” Vance told DailyMail.com.
Not another dime to Ukraine
Share if you agree https://t.co/nKgksGFFAN
— Mike Lee (@BasedMikeLee) February 20, 2025
Adding to the geopolitical complexity, Russian and U.S. negotiators have reportedly begun discussions on economic cooperation, including potential joint oil and gas drilling in the Arctic. This revelation has further complicated matters for Republican lawmakers who have spent years approving billions in military aid to Ukraine.
Some, like Senator Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), are uneasy about Trump’s direct engagement with Russia while sidelining Ukraine. “They were invaded by Putin and he’s responsible for murder, rape, torture, kidnapping of an untold number of Ukrainians. They’ve got to be at the table,” Tillis said. Others, such as new Senate Majority Leader John Thune, offered a more cautious response: “The President speaks for himself.”
