After holding a private meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the NATO Summit, President Donald Trump hinted at the possibility of offering financial and defense assistance to Ukraine while expressing frustrations with Russian President Vladimir Putin. At a press conference in The Hague, Netherlands, following his discussions, Trump indicated a willingness to provide Ukraine with additional aid, including the potential sale or delivery of Patriot air-defense missiles to help Ukraine defend itself against Russia. Trump acknowledged Ukraine’s interest in acquiring these missiles and stated that efforts would be made to make them available. Zelenskyy had recently mentioned that anti-drone weapons promised to Ukraine were redirected to the Middle East, prompting Trump to highlight the importance of such weaponry and the potential for financial support. Trump also commended Zelenskyy for his efforts in seeking to end the conflict and applying pressure on Putin to bring about a resolution. Both leaders expressed mutual respect and highlighted the importance of cooperation in strengthening Ukraine’s defense capabilities. Trump’s public statements regarding Zelenskyy represent a shift in his stance towards the Ukrainian President.
In Kyiv, at least 7 people were killed by Russian drone and missile strikes on Ukraine, according to the mayor. A public dispute between two officials in February resulted in the cancellation of a bilateral mineral deal, which was only finalized two months later when they met at Pope Francis’ funeral. Recently, as President Trump was working on negotiations between Iran and Israel, he left the G7 Summit in Canada early, missing a meeting with Ukraine. However, following a meeting with Ukrainian officials on Wednesday, Trump showed more empathy for the situation in Ukraine. He had a heartfelt exchange with a Ukrainian reporter, who shared that her husband was a Ukrainian soldier and her family had fled to Warsaw for safety. Trump expressed sympathy, asking personal questions before addressing her policy inquiry. He wished her luck and sent greetings to her husband, acknowledging the difficult circumstances they were facing.
