Gabbard Drops Truth Bomb on Zelensky’s War Tactics—It’s Ugly [WATCH]

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard sharply criticized Ukraine’s wartime policies during an appearance on Fox News Sunday, stating that actions taken by President Volodymyr Zelensky’s government do not align with American values.

Her remarks come amid increasing tensions between the Trump administration and Kyiv following a contentious Oval Office meeting between Zelensky, President Donald Trump, and Vice President JD Vance.

Gabbard’s comments also follow House Speaker Mike Johnson’s remarks questioning whether Zelensky can remain in office if he fails to repair ties with Trump.

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During the interview, Gabbard highlighted several concerns about Ukraine’s governance under Zelensky, pointing specifically to actions that have limited political opposition and religious freedoms.

“You have the canceling of elections in Ukraine. You have political parties being silenced or even criminalized or thrown in prison,” Gabbard said.

“You have the freedom of religion—churches being shut down. You have political opposition being silenced. You have total government control of the media.”

She went on to question whether Ukraine’s current leadership truly represents the democratic values it claims to uphold.

“So it really begs the question, as Vice President Vance said again in Munich, it’s clear that they’re standing against Putin. Obviously, that’s clear. But what are they actually really fighting for, and are they aligned with the values that they claim to hold in agreement with us?”

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Gabbard also referenced Ukraine’s 2024 law banning organizations with ties to the Russian Orthodox Church, which has backed Russia’s invasion, but has also raised concerns about religious freedom.

Her remarks echoed previous criticism from Trump, who called Zelenskyy a “dictator” for refusing to hold elections during the war.

Trump later softened his rhetoric, but tensions were evident during their White House meeting, where he criticized Zelenskyy for rejecting a ceasefire without security guarantees.

In the wake of Trump’s meeting with Zelensky, House Speaker Mike Johnson stated that the U.S. was not ‘abandoning’ Ukraine but suggested that significant changes were needed in Kyiv’s approach.

“Well, something has to change. Either he needs to come to his senses and come back to the table in gratitude, or someone else needs to lead the country to do that. I mean, it’s up to the Ukrainians to figure that out, but I can tell you that we are re-exerting peace through strength,” Johnson said.

Vice President JD Vance was more direct, confronting Zelenskyy in the Oval Office and asking, “Have you ever said ‘thank you’ once?” Vance also accused Zelensky of campaigning for the ‘opposition’ by visiting a Pennsylvania ammunition factory during an October 2024 U.S. trip.

The debate over U.S. support for Ukraine intensified after Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham suggested that Zelensky may need to step down.

However, Speaker Johnson defended continued U.S. involvement, stating on NBC’s Meet the Press that:

“President Trump has brought back strength to the White House. We knew that this moment would come. We worked hard for it to come, and now it’s here. But we need these parties to go along with this, and we need President Zelensky to do what is necessary. This war has dragged on far too long.”

.@SpeakerJohnson: “President Trump has brought back strength to the White House… We need President Zelenskyy to do what is necessary. This war has drug on far too long. He’s lost hundreds of thousands of people, including women and children. We’ve got to bring an end to it.” pic.twitter.com/hKKkYbiTAr

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) March 2, 2025

While Johnson reaffirmed that Russia remains an adversary, he emphasized that the priority is ending the war:

“I’d like to see Putin defeated, frankly. He is an adversary of the United States. But in this conflict, we’ve got to bring it into this war. It’s in everybody’s interest.”

Democrats, meanwhile, have condemned the Trump administration’s approach to Ukraine. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) pushed back on suggestions that Zelensky should step down, calling it a “horrific suggestion.”

“Zelensky is leading a country, trying to defend democracy against an authoritarian dictator, Putin, who invaded his country,” Sanders said.

“Millions of Americans are embarrassed, are ashamed, that you have a President of the United States who says that Ukraine started the war, that Zelensky is a dictator—he’s got it exactly backwards.”

Senator Bernie Sanders on whether Zelensky should resign:

“I think that is a horrific suggestion. Zelensky is leading a country, trying to defend democracy against an authoritarian dictator—Putin—who invaded his country.”
pic.twitter.com/MSEQbOeDd9

— Proud Elephant (@ProudElephantUS) March 2, 2025

White House National Security Advisor Mike Waltz also stopped short of calling for Zelensky’s removal but suggested that Ukraine’s leadership needs to adjust its approach.

“There is a need for a leader that can deal with us, eventually deal with the Russians, and end this war. If it becomes apparent that President Zelensky’s either personal motivations or political motivations are divergent from ending the fighting in his country, then I think we have a real issue on our hands,” Waltz said on CNN’s State of the Union.

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“We need a leader that can deal with us, eventually deal with the Russians, and end this war. And if it becomes apparent that President Zelensky’s either personal motivations or political motivations are divergent from… pic.twitter.com/6uqEh6KhYF

— Mr Producer (@RichSementa) March 2, 2025

As Trump’s administration shifts its stance on Ukraine, pressure is mounting on Zelensky to consider a ceasefire or negotiate terms for peace.

The Biden-Harris administration and its allies continue to back Ukraine’s resistance, but the evolving U.S. policy under Trump is forcing Kyiv to confront new political realities.

With the war now in its third year and billions of U.S. dollars already sent to Ukraine, the White House’s next moves will determine whether peace talks gain traction—or if the conflict drags on with no clear resolution in sight.

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