In response to criticism of Volodymyr Zelensky, Britain’s defense secretary on Thursday likened the Ukrainian president’s actions to those of Winston Churchill, the country’s national hero during World War II.
In recent days, US President Donald Trump has criticized Zelensky on numerous occasions, calling him a “dictator without elections” and claiming that he “started” the war—arguments that Russian officials have also employed.
Zelensky was elected in 2019 to a five-year term and has continued to lead his nation while it struggles to survive under martial control.
“He was elected, he’s the elected leader of Ukraine,” UK defence minister John Healey told reporters during a visit to Norway.
“And he’s done what Winston Churchill did in Britain in the Second World War, suspended elections while at war.”
Since Russia controls 20% of Ukraine’s territory and millions of Ukrainians have fled the nation, holding an election is challenging.
During World War II, the Winston Churchill-led coalition government in Britain likewise postponed holding legislative elections until July 1945.
Trump reiterated his pro-Moscow language on Wednesday, claiming that the Russians “have the cards” in any peace talks “because they’ve taken a lot of territory.”
On Thursday, a contented Kremlin declared that it “absolutely” agreed with the US administration on Ukraine and that it had “decided to start resuming Russian-American dialogue on all parameters.”
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