Ukraine-Russia war latest: Zelensky arrives in US for mineral deal as Trump tries to laugh off dictator jibe
Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky is set to meet Donald Trump in Washington DC to sign a critical minerals deal, as Kyiv works to regain US backing against Russia’s invasion.
Ahead of the meeting, Mr Trump denied ever calling the Ukrainian leader being a “dictator” following a Truth Social rant just last week.
“Did I say that? I can’t believe I said that”, the US president said in response to a question about whether he stood by the remark, adding: “We have a lot of respect, I have a lot of respect for him.
“We’ve given them a lot of equipment and a lot of money, but they have fought very bravely, no matter how you figure, they have really fought.”
In a remark that may concern European leaders, Mr Trump also said he trusted Russian president Vladimir Putin to keep his word on a peace deal struck with Ukraine and suggested a minerals deal alone could deter future Russian aggression, as he met with British prime minister Keir Starmer at the White House on Thursday.
“I think Russia has been acting very well,” he said. “I think we’re very well advanced on the deal, but we have not made a deal yet.”
