Former Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley took issue with President Trump’s recent remarks about Ukraine and its leader, Volodymyr Zelensky. She criticized Trump for his stance on the ongoing war in Eastern Europe and his negative comments about Zelensky, calling them “classic Russian talking points” and “exactly what Putin wants.”
On Tuesday, Trump appeared to place blame on Zelensky and Ukraine’s leadership for the war, which is now nearing its third anniversary. The following day, he reinforced his criticism, stating that Zelensky had done a “terrible job” leading the embattled country. Trump also accused Ukraine’s president of exploiting Washington, pointing to the extensive financial aid the U.S. has provided over the past three years.
Haley, who withdrew from the 2024 race and later endorsed Trump, took issue with his statements. As a strong advocate for U.S. foreign policy interests, she has consistently supported Ukraine and has argued that aiding Kyiv aligns with America’s national security priorities.
Trump’s criticisms of Zelensky coincided with a meeting in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, where U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and national security adviser Mike Waltz, engaged in discussions with Russian representatives. The talks aimed to explore potential peace negotiations and a re-establishment of diplomatic relations, which had weakened following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Notably, Ukraine was not represented in the meeting.
The following day, Trump escalated his attacks, referring to Zelensky as a “dictator” and accusing him of failing to hold nationwide elections. He also claimed that Zelensky’s approval rating had plummeted to single digits. However, under Ukraine’s martial law, elections are not permitted. A survey published Wednesday by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology indicated that 57 percent of Ukrainians still trust their president.
Zelensky did not remain silent in the face of Trump’s remarks. In response to Trump’s Tuesday comments, he fired back, stating that the former U.S. president was operating within a Russian “disinformation space.”
Haley’s criticism of Trump aligns with her longstanding foreign policy views. Since joining the Hudson Institute think tank after exiting the presidential race, she has maintained that supporting Ukraine is vital to U.S. interests. She has also voiced her backing for Ukraine’s eventual inclusion in NATO, further underscoring her commitment to Kyiv.
Trump’s recent remarks on Ukraine have not only drawn pushback from Haley but also from his former vice president and one-time 2024 primary rival, Mike Pence.
“Mr. President, Ukraine did not ‘start’ this war. Russia launched an unprovoked and brutal invasion claiming hundreds of thousands of lives. The Road to Peace must be built on the Truth,” Pence stated in a pointed message on Wednesday.
Some Republican senators have also expressed concerns over Trump’s rhetoric. Many have defended Zelensky’s leadership, emphasizing that Russia was the aggressor in 2022, eight years after annexing Crimea.
Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), who recently traveled to Kyiv with Senate Democrats, acknowledged Zelensky’s challenges but praised his leadership. “Zelensky is frustrated, but he’s also been the right head of state for the time. He’s kept a nation together focused on Russian occupiers, and I think we should give them a fair amount of credit for that work,” Tillis said.