Trump says EU getting ‘tired of spending’ money on Ukraine, urges Zelenskyy to end war
- ‘Zelenskyy has to want to settle this war, and if he doesn’t, I think it’s going to be a very bad thing,’ says US president
By Rabia Iclal Turan
WASHINGTON (AA) - US President Donald Trump said Tuesday that the European Union is getting “tired of spending” money on Ukraine and urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to reach a deal to end the war with Russia.
“European Union has quite a bit of money, although I have to tell you they’re getting tired of spending it,” Trump told reporters at the Oval Office.
“Ukraine has to want to settle this war. Zelenskyy has to want to settle this war, and if he doesn’t, I think it’s going to be a very bad thing,” he said.
“The United States has spent a fortune. Europe has spent a fortune. Europe’s tired of it right now,” Trump said.
“We have given tremendous amounts to Ukraine. We've got nothing back, other than high diesel (prices),” he added.
Asked whether the peace process was back on track after talks in Oslo, Norway, Trump said: “I think what’s happening is that Russia would like to get it done.”
“Russia is a big machine. They just keep grinding forward,” he said. “They have an unlimited supply of people.”
“The hatred between President (Vladimir) Putin and President Zelenskyy is tremendous. I think that’s most of the reason they haven’t been able to make a deal,” he said.
Asked whether Zelenskyy and Putin would need to be in the same room to sign a peace deal, Trump said: “They don’t have to be in the same room. I guess I can do it another way. It's hard for them to be in the same room. I don't care how it's done.”
Trump recently spoke of being open to a meeting with Russia and China to resolve the Ukraine war, which began in 2022.
- Trump talking to Putin about jailed US teacher
Asked whether the US is close to a deal for Russia to free retired American teacher Stephen Hubbard, Trump said, “I don’t want to talk about it,” but told the reporter to “remember that question for a couple of days from now.”
“I’ve been talking to President Putin about Mr. Hubbard. I’ve been talking to him at length. I’ve asked him to release him. Let’s see what happens,” he said.
“I’d love to get him back. It’s time. It’s time to have Mr. Hubbard back,” Trump added.
In October 2024, Hubbard was sentenced by a Russian court to nearly seven years in prison over serving as a mercenary for Ukraine.
Rabia İclal Turan