Opposition Leader Peter Dutton says Donald Trump ‘got it wrong’ with Zelenskyy ‘dictator’ claim, warns against showing support for Putin

Peter Dutton has joined Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in standing with Ukraine before going a step further and slamming US President Donald Trump for referring to Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy as a “dictator”.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has delivered strong criticism of Donald Trump after the United States President branded Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy a “dictator”.

President Trump pulled no punches as he spoke about the war between Russia and Ukraine in a post on Truth Social.

He blamed President Zelenskyy for not ending the war, claiming he had the opportunity to by making deal “that would have given them almost all of the land”, before labelling him a “dictator without elections” while issuing a thinly-veiled warning.

A Dictator without Elections, Zelenskyy better move fast or he is not going to have a Country left. In the meantime, we are successfully negotiating an end to the War with Russia, something all admit only “TRUMP,” and the Trump Administration, can do. Biden never tried, Europe has failed to bring Peace, and Zelenskyy probably wants to keep the “gravy train” going,” he posted.

President Trump also blasted the Biden administration for spending billions of dollars on support for Ukraine, claiming President Zelenskyy was a “modestly successful comedian” who “talked” the US into offering its funding.

Mr Dutton did not agree with the President’s stance on Ukraine and President Zelenskyy, making it clear on Thursday when speaking on 2GB by declaring President Trump had “got it wrong”.

“Australia should stand strong and proud with the people of Ukraine. It’s a democracy, and this is a fight for civilisation. Vladimir Putin is a murderous dictator, and we shouldn’t be giving him an inch,” Mr Dutton said.

“I think President Trump has got it wrong in relation to some of the public commentary that I’ve seen him make in relation to President Zelenskyy and the

relation to President Zelenskyy and the situation in the Ukraine.

“I think very careful thought needs to be given about the next steps, because if we make Europe less safe, or we provide some sort of support to Putin, deliberately or inadvertently, that is, that is a terrible, terrible outcome.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese did not directly respond to President Trump’s comments when speaking to the media, but reiterated Australia stood with Ukraine in their “struggle” for their national sovereignty and “the international rule of law”.

Defence Minister Richard Marles was asked whether he considered President Zelenskyy as a dictator as well, to which he replied simply: “No”.

“I’m also not about to engage in a running commentary of President Trump’s remarks,” he told Peter Stefanovic on Sky News’ First Edition.

“The war in Ukraine has seen a very significant loss of life over what’s coming up to three years. Having said that, it can’t be peace on any terms and to be clear, I don’t think America is saying that either.