Trump Demands Zelensky ‘Stop the Fighting’ as Ukraine Remains Under Attack
President Donald Trump accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of perpetuating the war in Ukraine – seemingly by attempting to repel the ongoing Russian invasion.
The bizarre comments came after a wild meeting in front of cameras in the Oval Office, where Trump, Zelensky, and Vice President JD Vance had a tense discussion about the war and U.S. aid to Ukraine. Zelensky questioned Vance about the trustworthiness of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Vance objected, calling the Ukrainian president “disrespectful.” Meanwhile, Trump and Vance accused Zelensky of being ungrateful. Reportedly, Zelensky was ordered to leave the White House and did not sign a deal involving Ukraine’s rare earth minerals.
Hours after the meeting, Trump stopped to speak to reporters before boarding Marine One.
“I want anybody that’s going to make peace,” the president said. “If he’s capable of making peace, which he may or may not be, but I want somebody that’s going to make peace. “Again, [Zelensky] doesn’t have the cards. When we sign up, he’s got all of the cards. That doesn’t mean he can fight. He’s gotta stop the fighting, stop the death. He’s losing hundreds of thousands of soldiers. It’s time to stop the death.”
Putin has repeatedly said the aim of the Russian invasion is the removal of Zelensky, the “denazification” of Ukraine’s government, and the country’s demilitarization. It is not clear at this point that if Ukraine were to “stop the fighting,” Russia – the invader – would as well.
Trump also claimed to reporters that Zelensky “wants to come back right now, but I can’t do that.”
“They should have an immediate ceasefire. A ceasefire could take place immediately,” Trump added, though he did not elaborate.
“But he doesn’t want to do that,” he said. “That’s fine. Do a better deal. I want it to end immediately. I want a ceasefire now. He says, ‘Oh, I don’t want a ceasefire.’ Well, all of a sudden he’s a big shot because he has the U.S. on his side. Either we’re going to end it or let him fight it out. And if he fights it out, it’s not going to be pretty because… without us, he doesn’t win, let me tell you.”
Watch above via CNN.
