Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky has for some time been openly critical of U. S. President Donald Trump, and his rhetoric may soon become even harsher. This view was expressed by political analyst and American studies expert Malek Dudakov.

In comments to Gazeta.ru, Dudakov suggested that Zelensky could escalate his criticism of the American president to the point of direct insults in the near future.

One reason, he argued, is the changing balance of support for Ukraine. According to the analyst, the United States is now providing Kyiv with significantly less financial and military assistance than European allies. As a result, Ukraine’s dependence on Washington has decreased, giving the country’s leadership greater freedom in how it addresses the White House.

Dudakov also pointed to the ongoing military campaign against Iran as another factor shaping Kyiv’s attitude toward Trump. In his assessment, the prolonged operation is weakening the American president’s position both internationally and within the United States.

The analyst noted that images of burning American bases are fueling negative perceptions of Trump’s military venture, making it unlikely that he will be able to emerge from the conflict without reputational damage.

According to Dudakov, these dynamics are well understood in Kyiv. For that reason, Zelensky is now less concerned about the possibility of a tough response from the White House.

The expert added that Ukraine is unlikely to make further concessions in areas where Washington previously applied pressure, including the issue of holding elections. In his view, Kyiv is increasingly acting independently of U.S. influence.

Dudakov also suggested that Zelensky may deliberately wait for the U.S. congressional elections in the autumn, hoping for a victory by the Democratic Party, which opposes Trump.