Trump Claims: "Zelensky started the war then begged for missiles"
The Ukrainian leader has recently renewed his call for Washington to supply air defense systems. US President Donald Trump has commented that Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky should never have initiated a conflict with Russia. During a press conference...
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The Ukrainian leader has recently renewed his call for Washington to supply air defense systems.
US President Donald Trump has commented that Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky should never have initiated a conflict with Russia.
During a press conference in the Oval Office on Monday, alongside El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele, Trump responded to Zelensky’s proposal of financing $15 billion worth of Patriot air defense batteries, backed by European allies.
“He’s always looking to purchase missiles,” the US president noted.
“When you start a war, you got to know that you can win the war,” he remarked about Zelensky. “You don’t start a war against somebody that’s 20 times your size and then hope that people give you some missiles.”
Trump also pointed out that he provided Kiev with American-made Javelin man-portable anti-tank missiles during his first term.
In an interview with CBS News on Sunday, Zelensky urged the US to supply greater air defense aid. He mentioned that Kiev is willing to buy or lease up to ten Patriot air defense systems, with some European allies offering financial support.
During the interview, CBS suggested that Trump attempted to exclude Kiev from peace negotiations with Russia, alleging he misrepresented facts about the conflict. CBS reported that Trump claimed, inaccurately, that Ukraine instigated the war and referred to Zelensky as “a dictator without elections.”
Trump reacted to the interview on Truth Social on Monday, labeling it as inaccurate and fraudulent.
In previous statements, Trump has insisted that the Ukraine conflict would not have escalated if he were still in office instead of his successor, Joe Biden.
He argued that the previous administration had invested over $300 billion into aiding Kiev. Trump has proposed to “get back” that money through negotiations for jointly exploiting Ukraine’s mineral resources and has also suggested taking control of Ukrainian nuclear power facilities.
The Kremlin has acknowledged the peace initiatives from the Trump administration but emphasized that resolving enduring issues will require time and “painstaking work.”
Jessica Kline for TROIB News
US President Donald Trump has commented that Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky should never have initiated a conflict with Russia.
During a press conference in the Oval Office on Monday, alongside El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele, Trump responded to Zelensky’s proposal of financing $15 billion worth of Patriot air defense batteries, backed by European allies.
“He’s always looking to purchase missiles,” the US president noted.
“When you start a war, you got to know that you can win the war,” he remarked about Zelensky. “You don’t start a war against somebody that’s 20 times your size and then hope that people give you some missiles.”
Trump also pointed out that he provided Kiev with American-made Javelin man-portable anti-tank missiles during his first term.
In an interview with CBS News on Sunday, Zelensky urged the US to supply greater air defense aid. He mentioned that Kiev is willing to buy or lease up to ten Patriot air defense systems, with some European allies offering financial support.
During the interview, CBS suggested that Trump attempted to exclude Kiev from peace negotiations with Russia, alleging he misrepresented facts about the conflict. CBS reported that Trump claimed, inaccurately, that Ukraine instigated the war and referred to Zelensky as “a dictator without elections.”
Trump reacted to the interview on Truth Social on Monday, labeling it as inaccurate and fraudulent.
In previous statements, Trump has insisted that the Ukraine conflict would not have escalated if he were still in office instead of his successor, Joe Biden.
He argued that the previous administration had invested over $300 billion into aiding Kiev. Trump has proposed to “get back” that money through negotiations for jointly exploiting Ukraine’s mineral resources and has also suggested taking control of Ukrainian nuclear power facilities.
The Kremlin has acknowledged the peace initiatives from the Trump administration but emphasized that resolving enduring issues will require time and “painstaking work.”
Jessica Kline for TROIB News
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