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Donald Trump has proven sympathy in direction of Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy, describing him as “very good” after assembly him on the sidelines of the Nato summit, whereas placing a more durable tone on Russia.
“Vladimir Putin actually has to finish that battle. Persons are dying at ranges that individuals haven’t seen earlier than for a very long time,” Trump mentioned. He added that the Russian chief had supplied to mediate within the Iran-Israel battle, to which he responded: “No, you may assist me with Russia.”
The US president has oscillated in his attitudes in direction of his Russian and Ukrainian counterparts, culminating with an Oval Workplace bust-up with Zelenskyy in February after which Washington quickly suspended its army and intelligence help to Kyiv.
Against this, Trump initially gave the impression to be extra understanding of Putin, whom he known as a number of occasions and with whose negotiating crew the US engaged in direct peace talks. However in latest weeks, Trump has grown more and more pissed off with the Russian president over his maximalist calls for and refusal to conform to a ceasefire.
Through the Nato summit discussions, Trump expressed frustration concerning the state of affairs in Ukraine, which he mentioned was “getting uncontrolled”, in response to two individuals within the room.
Zelenskyy described his assembly with Trump as “lengthy and substantive” — their second face-to-face assembly since February. They mentioned “all of the really essential points”, the Ukrainian chief mentioned, together with “tips on how to defend our individuals” and “tips on how to obtain a ceasefire and an actual peace”.
Trump disputed that that they had mentioned a ceasefire however nonetheless described the almost hour-long assembly as “very good” and centered on Ukraine’s general state of affairs.
“No, no, I needed to understand how he’s doing. He was very good, truly,” Trump mentioned. “He’s combating a troublesome battle. It’s a troublesome battle.”
Trump mentioned he and Zelenskyy had “had tough occasions” up to now, an obvious reference to the White Home row.
“What I took from the assembly — couldn’t have been nicer truly — however I took from the assembly that he’d prefer to see it finish,” Trump mentioned of Zelenskyy. “I feel it’s a good time to finish it. I’m going to talk to Vladimir Putin and see if we are able to finish it,” he added.
Trump mentioned that “the Ukraine disaster has additionally highlighted the urgency of rebuilding our defence industrial base” and that neither the US nor its allies may “afford to be depending on overseas adversaries for essential minerals”.
Kyiv and Washington signed a minerals deal final month, after an preliminary settlement that Zelenskyy was alleged to have signed in Washington was deserted as a result of Oval Workplace row.
Trump and Zelenskyy met once more in April, once they spoke one-on-one at St Peter’s Basilica throughout Pope Francis’ funeral. They have been anticipated to have a gathering on the G7 summit final week however the US president left early.
Their assembly on Wednesday got here as Russia accelerates its summer time offensive and manufacturing of missiles and drones.
Konrad Muzyka, director of Rochan Consulting, a Poland-based group that tracks the battle, mentioned Russia had launched extra Shahed drones this spring than at any time through the battle. “In June, they’ve already launched 4,342, and if the present tempo is maintained, the overall could exceed 5,000 by the tip of the month,” he mentioned.
Russia’s air marketing campaign has accompanied a brutal new floor offensive during which its troops have superior at their quickest tempo since November. A number of key cities in jap Ukraine at the moment are of their crosshairs, together with the logistical hubs of Pokrovsk and Kostyantynivka, which have all however turn out to be ghost cities as a result of relentless Russian bombing.
Trump claimed that the Ukrainian and Russian armies had suffered a mixed 7,000 casualties on the battlefield final week.
That determine couldn’t be independently verified.
Along with his army on the again foot and dealing with a scarcity of American-supplied arms and ammunition — US funding for army assist that was authorised beneath former president Joe Biden will in all probability run out this summer time — Zelenskyy has pleaded with Trump to promote Ukraine extra weapons.
Atop his want listing are extra US-made Patriot air defence methods and interceptor missiles to guard the skies over his war-torn nation.
Trump mentioned Washington was wanting into making extra Patriot missiles out there to Ukraine, although the US and Israel wanted them as effectively.
Extra reporting by Anne-Sylvaine Chassany and Henry Foy in The Hague
