'SHAMEFUL' TRUMP ATTACK STUNS WORLD

DONALD Trump's branding of Volodymyr Zelensky as a dictator is one of the "most shameful remarks" made by any US president, say critics.

- By Michael Knowles and Steph Spyro

Trump alleged Ukraine began the war with Russia and said of its democratic leader: "A dictator without elections, Zelensky better move fast or he is not going to have a country left."

His onslaught provoked a backlash and stunned world leaders last night as politicians and military experts alike predicted "dangerous days" ahead.

They feared that Trump's parroting of Kremlin propaganda might encourage Russian tyrant Vladimir Putin to attack a NATO country, triggering the Third World War.

Lord Dannatt, the former head of the British Army, warned: "Trump and Putin are trying to bully Zelensky into having an election in order to install a pro-Moscow president."

John Bolton, 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."

Mike Pence, who was Trump's own previous vice president, said: "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."

Sir Keir Starmer gave clear public support to "Ukraine's democratically elected leader" after a phone call with President Zelensky.

A Downing Street aide said that Sir Keir "stressed the need for everyone to work together" and added: "The Prime Minister reiterated his support for the US-led efforts to get a lasting peace in Ukraine that deterred Russia from any future aggression."

Posting on TruthSocial, Trump had accused President Zelensky of hoodwinking his Democrat predecessor Joe Biden.

He continued: "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'.