UN Refutes Trump’s Claims, Affirms Zelenskyy’s Legitimacy as Ukraine’s President

The United Nations does not consider Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy illegitimate, UN Secretary-General António Guterres' spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, stated following remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump, German media outlet Deutsche Welle reported on February 20.

“President Zelenskyy holds his position following properly conducted elections,” Dujarric told reporters.

Trump previously called Zelenskyy a “dictator without elections” on February 19, a statement that drew criticism from European leaders.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and other European leaders condemned Trump’s remarks, calling them “wrong and dangerous.”

Earlier, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that he would travel to Ukraine on February 24 to show support for President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Ukrainian democracy.