Trump calls Zelensky ‘ungrateful’ and dodges query on Russia allegiance in Fox News interview | EUROtoday

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Donald Trump leaned into his private feud with Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday.

The president sat down for an interview with Fox News and reacted to criticism of his conduct throughout an Oval Office assembly with the Ukrainian chief greater than per week in the past by which Trump and Vice President JD Vance appeared to gang up on the European chief.

On Sunday, Trump reiterated that he thought Zelensky wasn’t “grateful” and added that he “took candy from a baby” — his description of the Biden administration’s coverage of navy and political help for Ukraine’s navy.

The president additionally appeared to deride the Ukrainian chief’s assertion that his nation’s armed forces have been serving the nation bravely, as he dismissively recalled Zelensky “talking about the fact that they have fought and there’s […] bravery because somebody has to use those [US-supplied] weapons.”

“He’s a smart guy, and he’s a tough guy.” Trump mentioned of Zelensky. “He took money out of this country, under [Joe] Biden, like candy from a baby.”

He was requested by Sunday Morning Futures host Maria Bartiromo about critics who claimed that he was easing up political stress on Russia.

“Nobody has been tougher on Russia than Donald Trump,” declared the president, after an prolonged rant about what he known as “the Russia, Russia, Russia, hoax”. “Remember, I’m the one that stopped the pipeline — Nord Stream 2.”

Trump’s report with that particular challenge is a bit spotty; he fought with Congress over sanctions on Russia aimed toward stopping its development. Eventually, the House and Senate compelled his hand by together with the sanctions as a part of a yearly protection invoice.

His successor, Joe Biden, waived a few of these sanctions upon taking workplace in an effort to reengage European leaders alienated throughout Trump’s first 4 years in workplace. But the Biden administration stored up stress on the challenge, which was finally halted formally by Germany’s chancellor after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

And some reviews have indicated that his administration may very well be concerned about slicing a take care of Russia in 2025 that will enable for the challenge to renew.

Referring to Trump throwing Zelenksy out of the White House earlier than a minerals deal may very well be signed, Bartiromo requested the U.S. president: “Are you comfortable with that, the fact you walked away and Ukraine may not survive?”

Trump replied: “Well, it may not survive anyway. But, you know, we have some weaknesses with Russia. You know, it takes two.”

Bartiromo requested him about widespread assumptions that Trump has now sided with Russia in opposition to Ukraine, given his hostile remedy of Zelensky; the a number of concessions his administration has appeared to make to Vladimir Putin earlier than talks have even began; Trump’s resolution to cease navy help and very important intelligence to Ukraine; the U.S. voting with Russia on the United Nations; and his insistence on a minerals take care of little apparent profit to Ukraine.

She mentioned: “So is there anything else you want to say to the critics who say you chose a side in the Ukraine-Russia story – and that’s Russia. Because, you know, you called Zelensky a dictator and you had the fight [in the Oval Office].”

Trump declined to deal with the query immediately, as a substitute repeating the declare that “nobody has been tougher on Russia than Donald Trump. Nobody. And they know that, they know that. Just look at the things I just told you. The pipeline – I stopped it.”

A gleeful Kremlin spokesperson declared in current days that the US coverage on Ukraine was shifting to completely match the Russian authorities’s place.

“The new administration is rapidly changing all foreign policy configurations,” Dmitry Peskov mentioned on Russian state TV earlier in March.

But that would quickly change. In a submit to Truth Social on Friday, Trump threatened to impose additional sanctions on Russia over a renewed offensive launched in opposition to Ukrainian defenders and civilians this previous week. Blame for the effectiveness of the Russian assaults has been laid on the toes of the Republican president by a few of his critics because it intently follows the affirmation by information retailers that US intelligence businesses had ceased real-time intel sharing with their Ukraininan counterparts, a key component aiding Ukraine’s air defenses.

On the identical day, he added to reporters within the Oval Office that Ukraine was, in his thoughts, the larger impediment in direction of ending the battle. The US president has repeated that he believes Russia’s Vladimir Putin is prepared for peace, although US intelligence assessments have acknowledged in any other case.

“I’m finding it more difficult, frankly, to deal with Ukraine. They don’t have the cards,” he mentioned.

Some European international locations together with France and the UK have responded with requires elevated European help for Ukraine, although specialists say different Nato international locations will possible be unable to carry to bear the identical capabilities as their US allies.