Trump plays down ‘dictator’ jibe at Ukraine’s Zelensky: ‘I can’t believe I said that’
The US president also said he trusted Russia’s Putin to stick to any ceasefire with Kyiv, even without American security guarantees
US President Donald Trump on Thursday voiced respect for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the eve of his visit, playing down an earlier jibe that he was a “dictator”.
“I think we’re going to have a very good meeting tomorrow morning. We’re going to get along really well,” Trump said.
“I have a lot of respect for him,” Trump said of Zelensky at a joint news conference with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Trump has long criticised the billions in military and other aid Washington has given Ukraine, but took a different tone ahead of a meeting in which the two countries are expected to sign a deal on mining rights.
The deal, pushed by Trump as a form of compensation for Washington’s backing, would give the United States a share in much of Ukraine’s mineral wealth.
“We’ve given him a lot of equipment and a lot of money, but they have fought very bravely,” Trump said.
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Trump calls Ukraine’s Zelensky a dictator, tells him to move fast or lose his country