SHAWN THEW/EPA
US President Donald Trump (left) greets Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky upon his arrival at the West Wing of the White House in Washington, DC, USA
Trump and Zelenskyy in the White House like two wary friends. Ukrainian president suggested exchanging drones for Tomahawk missiles and Trump ‘winked his eye’ to a meeting with Orbán.
Two months later, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy returned to the White House this Friday to meet with his North American counterpart Donald Trump, in a reunion marked by a rare moment: Trump answered journalists’ questions even before meeting with Zelenskyy, in a much friendlier conversation than the one that took place in February in the Oval Office, where the Ukrainian leader left
Again in a black suit, the leader of Ukraine was praised by Trump upon arrival.
“I think he [Zelenskyy] He looks beautiful in that coat.”said the US president, who this time offered more praise. “I like him, he has been a great leader in the way he manages his country.” But despite the praise, Trump would announce a foreshadowing of the meeting that would follow: “He and Ukraine have suffered a lot… but so have we.”
Trump more cautious
On the one hand, Trump did not mince words in his role as a precursor of peace. “I love solving wars, because I love stopping people’s deaths. I’ve saved millions and millions of people”he told journalists. He also said that his administration “resolved eight conflicts” — the eighth being the war in the Middle East, “much more complicated” than the war in Ukraine, Trump said.
But regarding this ninth conflict, Trump was much more cautious this time, on two points: in relation to the prospects for peace and the supply of weapons to Ukraine.
During the first reception for journalists, in front of Zelenskyy, Trump never said that he would certainly resolve this war, contrary to his previous statements that he would resolve the war in hours if he were president. This Friday, we were left with “I think”, “I want” and “I am confident that” we will end the war between Ukraine and Russia; by “I think” and “I am confident” Putin wants a deal.
“I think Putin wants to end the war. We spoke in detail yesterday for 2 and a half hours,” said Trump, who hinted that he intends to arrange a meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy with Viktor Orbán, in Hungary.
But “I have been deceived my whole life by the best”, confessed the US leader. “It is possible that Putin is trying to buy time.”
Zelenskyy proposes arms trade with the US
Even before the meeting, Trump assured that deep attacks on Russian territory “would be discussed”, but warned that this represented “an escalation”.
Regarding the weapon that Zelenskyy will win at this meeting in Washington, long-range missiles TomahawkTrump was clear: the US has already given Ukraine many ‘toys’.
“We gave a lot [à Ucrânia]us [EUA] We need them, that’s why we also want to end the war. Let’s hope the war can end without talking about the Tomahawks”, Trump said. Zelenskyy, now quieter, interrupted, as if he didn’t want to let the subject get lost.
“Guns are very important,” he said, before proposing to Trump a exchange of weapons: Ukrainian drones with Tomahawk hairs.
“We also want Tomahawks, we need them to protect our country”, reinforced Trump shortly afterwards.
Moscow also warned, this Friday, that the sending of Tomahawk missiles to Kiev is a “hostile measure”.
Tomás Guimarães, ZAP //
