President Donald Trump seemed to backtrack on his recent harsh words about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during a meeting at the White House on Thursday.
Trump had previously criticized Zelensky, calling him a “dictator with elections” in a social media post last week. But when a reporter asked if he still believed Zelensky was a dictator, Trump seemed surprised and said, “Did I say that? I can’t believe I said that. Next question.”
Trump quickly added that the U.S. wants to work with Zelensky and that he and the Ukrainian president have had a “very good relationship.” He also mentioned that things might have gotten a bit tense because the U.S. wanted to push for more European support in the situation.
Trump has often said that Europe’s aid to Ukraine is a loan, while the U.S. provides aid that will never be repaid. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who was with Trump in the Oval Office, reminded everyone that much of Europe’s help has been a “gift.”
In recent days, Trump has become more critical of Zelensky, especially as U.S. officials are trying to find a way to end the war between Ukraine and Russia. Trump stirred up some controversy last week when he called Zelensky a “dictator without elections,” said he was doing a “terrible job,” and even suggested Zelensky was responsible for starting the war. At one point, Trump also said Zelensky didn’t need to be part of peace talks because he “has no cards.”
This week marked three years since Russia invaded Ukraine. Russia’s invasion came after years of tension, including Russia’s annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014.
Zelensky is expected to visit the White House on Friday, as the U.S. and Ukraine finalize a deal that would give the U.S. access to Ukraine’s critical minerals. Supporters of the deal believe it would make the U.S. more invested in protecting Ukraine from future threats.
Trump has promised to end the war in Ukraine, and earlier this month, he spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin to try to get ceasefire talks moving. Trump also said that Ukraine joining NATO is “not gonna happen.”
When asked on Thursday if he thought he could trust Putin, Trump replied that he thought Putin would stick to any deal they made. “Trust and verify, let’s call it that,” Trump said. “You have to verify, because you never know what’s going to happen.” He also added, “I have confidence that if we make a deal, it’s going to hold.”
Watch the clip below:
Trump on calling Zelenskyy a dictator: “Did I say that? I can’t believe I said that.” pic.twitter.com/rgkwLjw1D6
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 27, 2025
