Trump on calling Zelensky a dictator: 'Did I say that?'
President Trump on Thursday backtracked on his recent sharp criticism of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as the U.S. aims to strike a deal to end the war between Kyiv and Moscow.
Trump, during an Oval Office meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, tempered his comments about Zelensky, including a social media post last week in which Trump called Zelensky a “dictator with elections.”
When asked by a reporter whether he still believed Zelensky was a dictator, Trump responded: “Did I say that? I can’t believe I said that. Next question.”
“We want to work with him, President Zelensky … and we will work with him,” Trump said. “I think the president and I actually have had a very good relationship. It maybe got a little bit testy because we wanted to have a little bit of what the European nations had.”
Trump has repeatedly claimed European aid for Ukraine was in the form of a loan, while the U.S. provided aid that it would not recoup. Starmer, like French President Emmanuel Macron did alongside Trump on Monday, interjected to note that much of Europe's assistance for Ukraine was a “gift.”
Trump has in recent days become increasingly critical of Zelensky as U.S. officials pushed for a deal to end the war in Ukraine. Trump last week raised eyebrows when he called Zelensky a “dictator without elections,” claimed he was doing a “terrible job” and suggested he was responsible for the start of the war. At one point, Trump said he did not think it was important for Zelensky to be part of meetings on peace negotiations because the Ukrainian leader “has no cards.”
Monday marked three years since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February after amassing troops on the border and demanding a ban on Ukraine ever joining NATO. The invasion took place nearly a decade after Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014.
Zelensky is slated to visit the White House on Friday as the two countries finalize an agreement that would give the U.S. access to Ukraine’s critical minerals supply. Proponents of the deal have suggested the economic partnership would give the U.S. a vested interest in protecting Ukraine against future threats from Russia.
Trump campaigned on ending the war in Ukraine, and he spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier this month in an effort to kickstart ceasefire talks. Trump said Ukraine joining NATO was "not gonna happen."
Asked Thursday whether he thought he could trust Putin, Trump said he thought the Russian leader would keep his word.
"Trust and verify, let's call it that. … You have to verify, because you never know what’s going to happen. I know a lot of people you’d say, ‘No chance that they would ever deceive you,’ and they’re the worst people in the world,” Trump told reporters.
“You never know what you're getting,” he added. “No, I have confidence that if we make a deal, it's going to hold.”
-
Trump calls Zelenskyy a ‘dictator’ in growing war of words
Even as the White House pushes to end the war in Ukraine, President Donald Trump is escalating his attacks on President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, describing him as a "dictator." NBC’s Richard Engel ...NBC News - Feb. 20 -
Trump calls Zelenskyy a "dictator" after blaming Ukraine for Russia's invasion
"A Dictator without Elections, Zelenskyy better move fast or he is not going to have a Country left," President Trump wrote.CBS News - Feb. 19 -
Trump declines to describe Putin as a 'dictator' after calling Zelenskyy one
President Donald Trump hosted French President Emmanuel Macron at the White House, where they discussed the status of Ukraine-Russia peace talks.ABC News - 2d -
Trump's Ukraine envoy calls Zelensky 'embattled and courageous leader'
President Trump's special envoy to Ukraine and Russia called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky an "embattled and courageous leader" after meetings in Kyiv on Friday, a notable shift from ...The Hill - 6d -
Trump says he’ll meet with Zelensky soon to sign minerals deal
President Trump on Monday signaled he could meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House in the coming weeks to finalize a deal on critical minerals. Trump’s comments, which ...The Hill - 3d -
Trump and Zelensky’s war of words
The US and Ukrainian presidents get into a public row.BBC News - Feb. 19 -
iPhone Dictation Feature Transcribes the Word ‘Racist’ as ‘Trump’
The company said it was working to fix the problem after iPhone users began reporting the issue.The New York Times - 2d -
Is Zelensky’s Approach to Trump Hurting Ukraine?
Through three years of wartime leadership, Ukraine’s president has mostly played weak hands wisely. But his approach has fallen flat with the Trump administration.The New York Times - 3d -
Zelensky says he'd step down 'if it brings peace'
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Sunday that he would step down from the presidency if it meant achieving a lasting peace in Ukraine. “If to achieve peace, you really need me to give up ...The Hill - 4d
More from The Hill
-
Senators fume over Musk
Welcome to The Hill's Technology newsletter {beacon} Technology Technology The Big Story GOP senators frustrated over Musk's campaign Republican senators vented their concerns about Elon Musk’s ...The Hill - 27m -
North Korea sending more troops to Russia, South Korea says
North Korea appears to have sent more troops to Russia despite its soldiers suffering heavy casualties fighting on the front lines in Ukraine, South Korea’s main spy agency said Thursday. Seoul’s ...The Hill - 46m -
Former lumber industry executive named as Forest Service chief
The Trump administration’s pick to lead the Forest Service was previously an executive at a lumber industry company. The Forest Service said in a press release on Thursday that Tom Schultz of ...The Hill - 49m -
FCC chair swats away questions about Trump's demand Comcast be punished over MSNBC coverage
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chairman Brendan Carr did not address a social media post by President Trump demanding Comcast be forced to pay "vast sums" to the federal government when ...The Hill - 1h -
Baier to interview Zelensky after Trump meeting
Bret Baier has secured the first one-on-one interview with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky after his meeting with President Trump at the White House, to discuss the ongoing Ukraine-Russia ...The Hill - 1h
More in Politics
-
Senators fume over Musk
Welcome to The Hill's Technology newsletter {beacon} Technology Technology The Big Story GOP senators frustrated over Musk's campaign Republican senators vented their concerns about Elon Musk’s ...The Hill - 27m -
British Prime Minister weighs in on U.S. framework with Ukraine over mineral rights
In a new interview with NBC News’ Lester Holt, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said, “I can see the value in the approach in relation to minerals” and said “But I can see very clearly the ...NBC News - 28m -
North Korea sending more troops to Russia, South Korea says
North Korea appears to have sent more troops to Russia despite its soldiers suffering heavy casualties fighting on the front lines in Ukraine, South Korea’s main spy agency said Thursday. Seoul’s ...The Hill - 46m -
Former lumber industry executive named as Forest Service chief
The Trump administration’s pick to lead the Forest Service was previously an executive at a lumber industry company. The Forest Service said in a press release on Thursday that Tom Schultz of ...The Hill - 49m -
FCC chair swats away questions about Trump's demand Comcast be punished over MSNBC coverage
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chairman Brendan Carr did not address a social media post by President Trump demanding Comcast be forced to pay "vast sums" to the federal government when ...The Hill - 1h