Jordan Daily – U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday that Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky appeared “calmer” and more willing to pursue a deal with Moscow during their recent meeting at the Vatican, compared to their previous tense encounter at the White House.
Speaking to reporters before boarding Air Force One, Trump said the tone of their latest discussion was markedly different from their “little dispute” in February, which ended with the Ukrainian delegation being ejected from the Oval Office.
“I see him as calmer. I think he understands the picture. And I think he wants to make a deal. I don’t know if he wanted to make a deal [before]. I think he wants to make a deal,” Trump said.
Earlier this week, Trump told *Time* magazine that “Crimea will stay with Russia” under any potential peace agreement, adding that even Zelensky “understands” this reality despite public declarations to the contrary. When asked if he believed Zelensky was now prepared to “give up” Crimea, Trump replied, “Oh, I think so, yeah.”
Zelensky has consistently stated that Ukraine would never formally recognize Crimea as Russian territory, a stance Trump has previously criticized as “very harmful to the peace negotiations.”
Despite portraying Zelensky as someone who wants to do “something good for the country,” Trump noted that the Ukrainian leader had again requested additional military support.
“He told me that he needs more weapons, but he has been saying that for three years,” Trump said, acknowledging Ukraine’s “very tough situation” fighting “a much bigger force.”
Trump added that U.S. support, amounting to “$350 billion worth of weapons or cash,” had helped Ukraine, but said future aid would depend on developments with Russia. He also expressed disappointment over Moscow’s renewed strikes in Ukraine.
