Donald Trump made peculiar remarks about the attire of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and criticized his predecessor Joe Biden during a White House dinner between the two leaders.
President Zelensky came to meet Trump with optimism for a breakthrough to resolve the conflict in Ukraine. However, Trump hinted before the meeting that he was hesitant to provide Kyiv with a long-range missile system that Ukraine urgently requested.
Initially open to supplying Tomahawk missiles, Trump’s stance shifted after a conversation with Russia’s Vladimir Putin. Trump emphasized the need for Tomahawks for the United States, highlighting the importance of preserving national resources.
During a lunch meeting at the White House, Trump praised Zelensky as a strong leader and expressed hope for ending the conflict in Ukraine. Zelensky, in turn, commended Trump for the Middle East ceasefire and looked forward to similar progress in Ukraine.
Trump complimented Zelensky’s outfit, mentioning his elegant black jacket. He suggested that both Putin and Zelensky were inclined towards resolving the war, emphasizing the urgency of achieving peace.
When asked about negotiating with Trump versus Biden, Zelensky highlighted Trump’s opportunity to end the conflict due to his competence. Trump, in a retort, contrasted himself with Biden, labeling the latter as incompetent.
To facilitate communication, Trump agreed to meet Putin in Hungary at a summit hosted by Viktor Orban in Budapest. Zelensky planned to enhance the offer to Trump with an energy agreement involving US liquefied natural gas storage in Ukraine.
The upcoming summit signifies Putin’s first visit to EU territory since the conflict’s onset, complicated by airspace restrictions. Zelensky’s strategy includes offering energy storage facilities as a means to deepen US presence in the European energy market.
Follow our Mirror Politics account on Bluesky for more updates. Join our Politics WhatsApp group for breaking news and exclusive content. Subscribe to the Mirror’s Politics newsletter for top stories and opinions. Watch our YouTube series ‘Party Games’ featuring games with MPs hosted by Sophie Huskisson.