Elon Musk has branded Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky “evil” for pushing what he called a “forever war” with Russia, as tensions between Kyiv and Washington escalate following a heated meeting with US President Donald Trump.
In response to a post on X that accused Zelensky of prolonging the war to maintain power, Musk agreed, stating, “True. As distasteful as it is, Zelensky should be offered some kind of amnesty in a neutral country in exchange for a peaceful transition back to democracy in Ukraine.” He went on to condemn the Ukrainian leader more directly, writing, “Zelensky wants a forever war, a never-ending graft meat grinder. This is evil.”
Musk’s remarks come amid a significant shift in US policy towards Ukraine. Trump has temporarily suspended military aid to Kyiv, with a White House official confirming that all assistance is being “paused and reviewed” to ensure it contributes to a solution rather than prolonging the conflict.
Taking to Truth Social before the aid was halted Trump had claimed that “Zelenskyy doesn’t want peace as long as he has America’s backing.”
“This is the worst statement that could have been made by Zelenskyy, and America will not put up with it for much longer! It is what I was saying, this guy doesn’t want there to be Peace as long as he has America’s backing,” Trump wrote.
The decision follows a dramatic confrontation between Trump, his Vice President JD Vance, and Zelensky at the White House, where Trump reportedly warned the Ukrainian leader that he “won’t be around very long” if he does not engage in negotiations with Russia.
The move by Trump has cast uncertainty over Ukraine’s ability to sustain its war effort. The New York Times reported that the pause affects billions of dollars in arms and ammunition. Trump has grown increasingly frustrated with Zelensky, viewing him as uncooperative in peace talks and not sufficiently appreciative of American support. At a White House event, Trump reiterated his stance, stating, “If somebody doesn’t want to make a deal, I think that person won’t be around very long.”
Zelenskyy, for his part, has insisted that Ukraine is committed to achieving peace but stressed that real security guarantees are necessary to prevent further aggression from Russia. He blamed the lack of international assurances for allowing Moscow to annex Crimea in 2014 and launch its full-scale invasion in 2022.
The Ukrainian leader’s remarks have drawn criticism from both the US and Russia. The Kremlin accused Zelensky of displaying a “complete lack of diplomatic abilities” during his White House visit, while prominent Trump allies have ramped up pressure on him to either change his approach or step aside. Meanwhile, European leaders have scrambled to formulate a new truce proposal, with Britain and France reportedly considering a temporary ceasefire plan focused on limiting attacks on energy and infrastructure targets.
