Washington: Under fire for his remarks calling Ukraine's president a 'dictator,' US President Donald Trump on Wednesday turned for support to his political ally, Elon Musk, citing the billionaire's remarks praising Trump's Ukraine policy.

According to Anadolu Agency, Trump quoted Musk on his Trust Social platform, where Musk said: "The President's instincts on Ukraine are absolutely right. It is really sad that so many parents have lost their sons, and so many sons their fathers in this pointless war." Trump is advocating for US talks with Moscow to bring an end to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, which has persisted for nearly three years.

Musk also criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's July 2022 photo shoot for Vogue magazine, conducted just months after the war began. Musk expressed his disapproval on X, stating, "He did this while kids are dying in trenches on the war front." Ukrainian relief organizations such as NOVA Ukraine defended the Vogue article, claiming it helped raise awareness about the war and the necessity for international assistance.

Furthermore, Musk accused the Ukrainian president of being responsible for the death of Chilean-American journalist Gonzalo Lira, who was reportedly killed last year for his critical stance toward Zelenskyy. The Committee to Protect Journalists and other groups have alleged the killings of critical journalists in Russia, though the Russian government denies these claims.

Musk's statements came in defense of Trump, who had labeled Zelenskyy as a "dictator without elections" and issued a warning that Zelenskyy "better move fast or he is not going to have a country left." Under Ukraine's Constitution, elections are not permitted during wartime, according to Zelenskyy.