Defiant Ukrainian President Zelensky has issued a five-word message shortly after he was called a "dictator" by Donald Trump in a social media tirade earlier today.

       Mr Zelensky didn't directly address Mr Trump, and as he took to X and simply wrote: "Thank you for your support!".

       President Trump stunned the international community after he posted on the Truth Social network today (Wednesday) claiming his Ukrainian counterpart had done a "terrible job" and that he was "A Dictator without Elections".

       In a long-winded attack, the 78-year-old continued: "On top of this, Zelensky admits that half of the money we sent him is 'MISSING'. He refuses to have Elections, is very low in Ukrainian Polls, and the only thing he was good at was playing Biden 'like a fiddle.' A Dictator without Elections, Zelensky better move fast or he is not going to have a Country left."

       President Zelensky was democratically elected in 2019. While a vote was to take place in the spring of 2024, all political parties in Ukraine agreed not to hold elections until the war had ended.

       READ MORE... Boris Johnson and Kemi Badenoch lead criticism of Trump's Zelensky attack

       In his latest attack in a war of words against Mr Zelensky, Mr Trump made it personal saying he thought the Ukrainian leader had "done a terrible job" and that he was "a modestly successful comedian".

       He also bemoaned what he claimed was "$200 Billion Dollars" more spent by the United States in aid for Ukraine than Europe.

       Mr Trump's attack has drawn criticism in both the US and abroad.

       John Bolton, Mr Trump’s former national security adviser, said: “Trump’s characterisations of Zelensky and Ukraine are some of the most shameful remarks ever made by a US president.

       “Our support of Ukraine has never been about charity, our way of life at home depends on our strength abroad.”

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       British opposition figures have hit out at Mr Trump after he claimed Ukrainian president Mr Zelensky was "a dictator without elections".

       Mr Trump made the claim in a tirade on TruthSocial, his own social media platform, in which he attacked Mr Zelensky, saying he had "better move fast or he is not going to have a country left".

       The president's post brought disagreement from Kemi Badenoch, who said: "President Zelensky is not a dictator.

       "He is the democratically elected leader of Ukraine who bravely stood up to Putin's illegal invasion. Under my leadership, and under successive Conservative prime ministers, we have and always will stand with Ukraine."

       Adding that Mr Trump was "right that Europe needs to pull his weight", she said she would support Sir Keir Starmer to increase defence spending and urged him to "get on a plane to Washington and show some leadership".

       But the president's comments about Mr Zelensky drew stronger criticism from Sir Ed Davey, the Liberal Democrat leader, who said they "must be where the line is drawn".

       He added: "It is my sincere hope that the whole political spectrum in the United Kingdom will speak with one voice in opposition to Trump's lies."

       Downing Street has yet to respond to Mr Trump's post as Sir Keir Starmer prepares to meet him in Washington next week.