After US-Russia talks, Trump addresses reporters
Trump has addressed journalists regarding the negotiations with Russia concerning Ukraine. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
**President More Confident About Negotiating a Deal to End the Ukraine Conflict**
President Donald Trump addressed reporters shortly after significant US-Russia discussions aimed at resolving the Ukraine conflict, which took place in Riyadh on Tuesday. He expressed optimism about facilitating a peace deal and criticized Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky.
Trump stated he felt “much more confident” about achieving lasting peace and emphasized that his primary objective was to “save lives.”
**On Financial Support for Ukraine**
Regarding financial aid, Trump asserted that NATO members and Kyiv must ensure that support provided to Ukraine is utilized effectively. “They have to pay. They have to find out where the money is going,” he remarked.
“President Zelensky said last week that he doesn’t know where half of the money is that we gave him,” Trump noted. “Where is it going? I’ve never seen an accounting of it.”
This comment appeared to reference Zelensky’s remarks during an interview with podcaster Lex Fridman last month, where he indicated that Kyiv had “not received the half” of the funds promised by the US.
**On Negotiations**
Trump suggested that Zelensky and other Ukrainian officials had no grounds to voice complaints about their absence from the Riyadh talks. He expressed disappointment with Kyiv’s leadership.
“Today I heard, ‘We weren’t invited.’ Well, you’ve been there for three years, you should’ve ended it… You should’ve never started it. You could’ve made a deal,” he said.
**On Zelensky’s Popularity**
Describing Zelensky as significantly unpopular domestically, Trump claimed, “The leader in Ukraine – I hate to say it – but he’s down at a 4% approval rating.”
“When they want a seat at the [negotiating] table, you could say – wouldn’t the people of Ukraine have to say, ‘It’s been a long time since we’ve had an election,” he added.
According to the New York Times, Zelensky’s approval rating has fallen to approximately 50% from the 90% he received in the early days of the conflict in 2022. Zelensky’s five-year presidential term will conclude in May 2024, and he has refrained from calling for new elections, citing martial law.
**On Peacekeeping Forces**
Trump expressed support for an EU peacekeeping force in Ukraine if a ceasefire is established between Moscow and Kyiv. “If they want to do it, that’s great. I’m all for it. I would not object to it at all,” he remarked, emphasizing that US troops would not participate in any peacekeeping missions.
Anna Muller for TROIB News
President Donald Trump addressed reporters shortly after significant US-Russia discussions aimed at resolving the Ukraine conflict, which took place in Riyadh on Tuesday. He expressed optimism about facilitating a peace deal and criticized Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky.
Trump stated he felt “much more confident” about achieving lasting peace and emphasized that his primary objective was to “save lives.”
**On Financial Support for Ukraine**
Regarding financial aid, Trump asserted that NATO members and Kyiv must ensure that support provided to Ukraine is utilized effectively. “They have to pay. They have to find out where the money is going,” he remarked.
“President Zelensky said last week that he doesn’t know where half of the money is that we gave him,” Trump noted. “Where is it going? I’ve never seen an accounting of it.”
This comment appeared to reference Zelensky’s remarks during an interview with podcaster Lex Fridman last month, where he indicated that Kyiv had “not received the half” of the funds promised by the US.
**On Negotiations**
Trump suggested that Zelensky and other Ukrainian officials had no grounds to voice complaints about their absence from the Riyadh talks. He expressed disappointment with Kyiv’s leadership.
“Today I heard, ‘We weren’t invited.’ Well, you’ve been there for three years, you should’ve ended it… You should’ve never started it. You could’ve made a deal,” he said.
**On Zelensky’s Popularity**
Describing Zelensky as significantly unpopular domestically, Trump claimed, “The leader in Ukraine – I hate to say it – but he’s down at a 4% approval rating.”
“When they want a seat at the [negotiating] table, you could say – wouldn’t the people of Ukraine have to say, ‘It’s been a long time since we’ve had an election,” he added.
According to the New York Times, Zelensky’s approval rating has fallen to approximately 50% from the 90% he received in the early days of the conflict in 2022. Zelensky’s five-year presidential term will conclude in May 2024, and he has refrained from calling for new elections, citing martial law.
**On Peacekeeping Forces**
Trump expressed support for an EU peacekeeping force in Ukraine if a ceasefire is established between Moscow and Kyiv. “If they want to do it, that’s great. I’m all for it. I would not object to it at all,” he remarked, emphasizing that US troops would not participate in any peacekeeping missions.
Anna Muller for TROIB News
