Is Zelensky Acting Like a Dictator?
President Zelensky has suspended elections, banned opposition parties, and cracked down on religious groups. President Trump has labeled him a "dictator without elections." Is Zelensky defending Ukraine or consolidating power? Let's take a closer look.
Suspension of Elections – Zelensky canceled Ukraine’s 2024 elections, citing martial law. While Ukraine is at war, democratic countries (like the U.S. during the Civil War or the UK in WWII) have still held elections. His refusal to allow them raises concerns about democracy.
Crackdown on Opposition – Zelensky banned multiple political parties (including the Opposition Platform – For Life, the second-largest party in parliament) and seized control of TV networks to consolidate power.
Persecution of Religious Leaders – The Ukrainian government has arrested clergy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, accusing them of being pro-Russian, which critics say is an attack on religious freedom.
Western Money Misuse – Reports suggest that billions in U.S. aid are unaccounted for, with even Zelensky himself acknowledging corruption within Ukraine’s defense ministry.
The War: Did Zelensky Play a Role in Its Escalation?
Yes, Russia invaded Ukraine, but that doesn’t mean Zelensky is blameless.
He campaigned on peace in 2019 but later refused diplomatic solutions (like the Minsk agreements, which sought a peaceful resolution).
The U.S. and NATO pushed Ukraine toward military confrontation, and Zelensky went along with it instead of insisting on diplomacy.
Even former Israeli PM Naftali Bennett said Zelensky was ready to negotiate with Russia early on, but Western leaders stopped him.
Trump is arguing that, instead of pushing for peace, Zelensky exploited the situation to secure massive U.S. aid—more than $350 billion—while giving Americans nothing in return. That’s not an unreasonable criticism.
-the Conservative TAKE contributor