Donald Trump. Photo: Chip Somodevilla/AP
US President Donald Trump has said he is “likely” to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during the NATO summit in The Hague. He told reporters on board the presidential aircraft Air Force One on his way to the Netherlands, AFP reports, citing the American leader.
“Yes, I will probably see him,” Trump said when asked about a possible meeting with the Ukrainian president.
At the same time, the head of the White House made his position on the Russian-Ukrainian war clear again, recalling their tense conversation in February this year in Washington. When asked what exactly he would say to Zelenskyy during the talks, Trump answered briefly:
“I’ll say, ‘How are you doing? He’s in a difficult situation. He shouldn’t have been there at all.”
This statement came amidst attempts by the US and European allies to support Ukraine not only with weapons, but also by seeking diplomatic ways to end the war. The two leaders are currently participating in a key NATO summit, where the main topics are increasing defence spending, Europe’s strategic security and long-term support for Ukraine.
The potential meeting is expected to give a new impetus to US-Ukraine relations, but Trump’s remarks have raised concerns among NATO partners about the unity of the US position in defending Ukraine’s sovereignty.
