I Am For Both Ukraine and Russia: Trump Tells Zelenskyy at White House

Washington: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived at the White House to meet with President Donald Trump on Friday, where talking about his role in the negotiations, US President Trump said, “I am for both Ukraine and Russia.”

US President greeted Ukraine's Zelenskyy at the doors, the two men shook hands and stood there briefly as reporters shouted questions before they headed inside.

‘I am For Both Ukraine and Russia’

Talking about his role in the negotiations, Trump said, “I am in the middle, I am for both Ukraine and Russia.”

“I want to get it solved,” Trump added.

US President Trump announced in the Oval Office that an agreement on rare earth elements will be signed later this afternoon.

Trump said that Europe and NATO have to step up and spend more on defence.

Zelenskyy's ‘Gambling With World War III’ Says Trump

The final 10 minutes of the nearly 45-minute discussion became a tense exchange between Trump,  and Zelenskyy.

As Zelenskky was pushing for US security commitments to keep his country safe from further Russian aggression, to which Trump told Zelenskyy that doing so was disrespectful.

To Zelenskyy, Trump said, "You’re gambling with the lives of millions of people,"  

"You’re gambling with World War III, and what you’re doing is very disrespectful to the country, this country that’s backed you far more than a lot of people say they should have.” Trump added.

Trump Praises ‘Unbelievably Brave’ Ukrainian Troops

At Oval Office meeting, Trump praised the “unbelievably brave” courage of Ukrainian soldiers and highlighted a significant economic deal between the two nations.

The US president also said that while Ukraine will have to make “compromises”, it’s only because “you can’t do any deals without compromises,” but they “will not be as big as some people think you’re going to have to make.”

Also Read: Trump Receives Zelenskyy At White House

while at the same time, Zelenskyy maintained that no concessions should be made with Russia's "killer" leader.

Ukrainian delegation is expected to sign a landmark economic agreement with the US aimed at financing the reconstruction of war-damaged Ukraine, a deal that would closely tie the two countries together for years to come.

Though the deal, which is seen as a step toward ending the war on Ukraine, references the importance of Kyiv’s security, it leaves that to a separate agreement to be discussed between the two leaders.

(with AP inputs)