FULL PRESS CONFERENCE Trump – Vance – Zelensky 28 Feb 2025

• It seems likely that on February 28, 2025, a planned press conference at the White House involving Donald Trump, JD Vance, and Volodymyr Zelensky turned into a heated argument, leading to its cancellation.
• The meeting was intended to sign a minerals deal, but it ended without an agreement, with Trump accusing Zelensky of being ungrateful and disrespectful.
• Research suggests the argument focused on US support for Ukraine and peace talks with Russia, with significant tension over Zelensky’s approach.
• The evidence leans toward this event straining US-Ukrainian relations, with European leaders supporting Ukraine afterward.

(0:09) Well, thank you very much. (0:10) It’s an honor to have President Zelensky of Ukraine. (0:14) And we’ve been working very hard, very close.

(0:17) So we’ve actually known each other for a long time. (0:19) We’ve been dealing with each other for a long time and very well. (0:23) We had little negotiation stat, but that worked out great, I think, for both countries, I think for the world, actually, beyond both countries.

(0:32) And we have something that is a very fair deal. (0:36) And we look forward to getting in and digging, digging, digging, and working and getting some of the rare earth. (0:43) But it means we’re going to be inside, and it’s a big commitment from the United States.

(0:48) And we appreciate working with you very much. (0:52) And we will continue to do that.(0:54) We have had some very good discussions with Russia.

(0:57) I spoke with President Putin. (1:00) And we’re going to try and bring this to a close with something that you want and that he wants. (1:04) We have to negotiate a deal.

(1:06) But we’ve started the confines of a deal, and I think something can happen. (1:12) The big thing is the number of soldiers, mostly at this point, but soldiers being killed. (1:19) You’re losing thousands of soldiers on both sides.

(1:21) We’re losing a lot of soldiers. (1:22) And we want to see it stop. (1:25) And we want to see the money get put to different kinds of use, like rebuilding, the rebuilding.

(1:31) And we’re going to be working very hard. (1:33) But we’ve had a lot of very good conversations. (1:35) I will say, until we came along, the Biden administration didn’t speak to Russia whatsoever.

(1:41) They didn’t speak to anybody. (1:42) They just allowed this to continue. (1:45) And I will say that — I’ll say in front of you, you’ve heard me say it a thousand times — if I were President, this war would have never happened.

(1:53) We would have had a deal negotiated for you without having to go through what you’ve gone through. (1:59) But you — your soldiers have been unbelievably brave. (2:02) We’ve given them great equipment.

(2:04) But they — if somebody has to use the equipment, they’ve been unbelievably brave. (2:08) And we give them great credit. (2:10) This was supposed to be over very quickly, and here we are three years later.

(2:16) So I give tremendous credit to your generals and your soldiers and yourself, in the sense that it’s been very hard fighting, very tough fighting. (2:27) They’re great fighters. (2:28) And you have to be very proud of them from that standpoint.

(2:32) But now we want to get it over with. (2:34) It’s enough. (2:35) Right?

(2:35) We want to get it over with. (2:36) So it’s an honor to have you here. (2:39) Thank you very much for coming.

(2:40) We’re going to sign the agreement at the conference in the East Room in a little while, right after lunch. (2:49) And we’ll be having lunch together. (2:50) We’re also discussing some other things.

(2:53) And we appreciate everybody being here. (2:55) It’s somewhat of an exciting moment. (2:58) But the really exciting moment is when we get a — when they stop the shooting and we end up with a deal.

(3:03) And I think we’re fairly close to getting that. (3:05) And an honor to have you. (3:07) And please, would you like to say something?

(3:09) Yeah.

(3:10) Thank you so much, Mr. President. (3:12) Thank you for invitation. (3:14) And really, I hope that this document, first document, will be first step to real security guarantees for Ukraine, our people, our children.

(3:24) I really count on it. (3:26) And of course, we count that America will not stop support. (3:30) Really, for us, it’s very important to support and to continue it.

(3:34) I want to discuss it with details further during our conversation. (3:38) And of course, the infrastructure or security guarantees. (3:42) Because for today, I understand what Europe is ready to do.

(3:46) And of course, I want to discuss with you what United States will be ready to do. (3:51) And I really count on your strong position to stop Putin. (3:55) And you said that enough with the war.

(3:58) I think that it’s very important, Ben, to say these words to Putin at the very beginning — at the very beginning of war, because he is a killer and terrorist. (4:06) But I hope that together we can stop him. (4:09) But for us, it’s very important to save our country, our values, our freedom and democracy.

(4:18) And of course, no compromises with the killer about our territories. (4:22) But it will be later.(4:24) And of course, what I wanted — you know, we spoke about it by phone with you, about the drones production.

(4:30) We have very good drones production. (4:32) I think the best one in the world for today because of the war. (4:35) Yes.

(4:36) And of course, we need very much the air defense. (4:41) You have the best air defense in the world. (4:43) And really, you helped us under attacks of Russians.

(4:46) And I want to speak how we can exchange the licenses. (4:49) We are open to share the licenses of all our drones with you, of course, with the United States. (4:55) And we need licenses for quick production of air defense.

(4:58) Even after the war, we need our nation to be calm, that we are secure. (5:03) So that’s why we need this air shield. (5:06) And of course, about this — I want to speak about the contingents.

(5:11) I think that France and UK already spoke to you, and we know that Europe is ready. (5:17) But without United States, they will not be ready to be as strong as we need. (5:23) And then the last point, I must not list, about exchange, about our people and children.

(5:29) And you know that these crazy Russians, that they stole 20,000 of children, Ukrainian children. (5:35) They changed their names, they changed their families, relatives, and now they’re in Russia. (5:43) We want to bring them back.

(5:45) And really, it’s a big, big dream, task and goal for me and our warriors. (5:51) We — by the way, Mr. President, we brought, we exchanged, we just released more than 4,000 warriors from Russian prison, but there are thousands more in the prison. (6:03) I wanted to share with you some images, how — I’ve just — just — can I now?

(6:11) Yeah, please, please. (6:12) One minute, one minute. (6:15) Just you to understand what the — in what circumstances, in what situation they are, and what the attitude of Russia to our prisoners.

(6:23) Those guys, just you before, before and after, you see, before and after, just you to understand. (6:31) Now thousands of such guys, ladies and men, they are — and that, so they don’t eat, they beat them and they, you know, do a lot of, a lot of, you know, bad things. (6:45) So out of — even during the war, there are rules.

(6:48) Everybody knows there are rules during the war. (6:51) These guys, they don’t have any rules. (6:53) You see that 50, 60 kilograms in them and a lot of such things.

(6:59) And I didn’t want to show you what the changes with images of children, because I will share, just share with you. (7:07) And I mean, it’s looking tragic.

(7:11) Yeah, it’s tough stuff.

(7:12) Yeah, yeah. (7:13) I don’t want it very much to give you, you see. (7:16) Yeah.

(7:17) This is pastor, by the way. (7:19) They stolen pastors because it’s not Russian church. (7:22) They stolen pastors and moved pastors to the prison.

(7:25) We, at the end of last year, we brought three pastors and we could exchange them. (7:33) And this is pastor, you see.

(7:35) Yeah, it’s tough.

(7:37) Yeah. (7:37) So I mean, this, I wanted to show you and this. (7:41) So thank you very much.

(7:42) We want to get that entered, right? (7:43) Yeah, of course. (7:45) We, of course, we will.

(7:45) I think we will. (7:46) I think we will. (7:48) And they have to, of course.

(7:50) Do you have any questions?

(7:54) Thank you, Mr. President. (7:56) With the how much money is the US going to put into the fund that is being created today? (8:00) And how does this provide long term security for Ukraine?

(8:04) Well, we don’t know exactly how much because we’re going to be putting some money in a fund that we’re going to get from the raw earth that we’re going to be taking and sharing in terms of revenue. (8:14) So it’s going to be a lot of money will be made from the sale and from the use of raw earth. (8:19) And as you know, our country doesn’t have much raw earth.

(8:22) We have a lot of oil and gas, but we don’t have a lot of the raw earth. (8:28) And what we do have is protected by the environmentalists, but that could be unprotected. (8:33) But still, it’s not very much.

(8:35) They have among the best in the world in terms of raw earth. (8:39) So we’re going to be using that, taking it, using it for all of the things we do, including AI and including weapons and the military. (8:49) And it’s really going to very much satisfy our needs.

(8:52) So it’s something that just worked out really well. (8:55) We have a lot of oil and we have a lot of gas. (8:57) We have a lot, but we don’t have raw earth.

(8:59) So this this has just about every component of the raw earth that we need for computers, for all of the things we do. (9:07) This puts us in great shape. (9:09) And a long term security for Ukraine.

(9:11) I think they’re going to have great luck. (9:14) I think once we make the agreement, that’s going to be 95 percent of it. (9:17) It’s not going to go back to fighting.

(9:19) I’ve spoken with President Putin and I think I mean, I feel very strong. (9:25) I’ve known him for a long time and I feel very strongly that they’re very serious about it and we’ll make a deal.(9:32) And when the deal is made, I don’t think we talk about security.

(9:35) Everyone’s talking about the other day. (9:36) All they talked about was security. (9:38) I said, let me make the deal first.

(9:39) I have to make the deal first. (9:41) I don’t worry about security right now. (9:42) I got to we have to have a deal because right now, last week, two thousand soldiers died on both sides.

(9:49) Two thousand. (9:50) And they’re losing a thousand, two thousand, three thousand a week.(9:54) So as we sit here and we talk, people are getting shot and dying on the battlefield.

(9:59) And, you know, they’re not American soldiers, but they’re Russian soldiers and the Ukrainian soldiers. (10:05) And we want to be able to stop it. (10:07) And we want to be able also to spend money on other things.

(10:10) We don’t want to. (10:11) This is a tremendous amount of money. (10:13) And what the Biden administration did was terrible.

(10:16) They were giving money, but he had no security on the money. (10:19) Europe, as you know, gave much less money, but they had security. (10:22) It was in the form of a loan.

(10:24) They get their money back and we didn’t. (10:25) And now at least we’re protected because the American taxpayer has to be protected, too. (10:31) But this is an incredible agreement for Ukraine, because we have a big investment in their country now.

(10:41) And what what they have, very few people have. (10:44) And we’re able to really go forward with very, very high tech things and many other things, including weaponry, weaponry that we’re going to use in many locations, but that we need for our country. (10:56) This allows us to do that.

(11:01) Will you continue? (11:02) Sorry, I’m sorry.

(11:03) It’s military aid. (11:04) Yes, go ahead, please.

(11:06) Yeah, I can just. (11:07) Yes, in the document, there is one of the very important points.(11:11) If we speak about business and investment, we never had LNG terminals in Ukraine.

(11:18) This document will open, I mean, the next document. (11:21) But anyway, here we see in the framework, we see we see a really good deal for this. (11:26) LNG terminals for us is very important.

(11:28) And I think for security of European continent, we have the biggest storage, gas storage.(11:35) We have the biggest in Europe. (11:37) Yes, yes.

(11:38) And we can use it. (11:40) You just for LNG, use it for LNG and we will do it. (11:44) And really, we can help Europe because Europe really helped.

(11:47) President Trump said that they made less support. (11:52) But they are our friends and they are our very supportive partners. (11:56) They really gave a lot, Mr. President. (12:00) Really, they did. (12:02) I gave a lot, but I gave much less. (12:04) No, much less.

(12:05) No.

(12:08) Mr. President Trump, you have repeatedly called the deal with Ukraine as a historical one.(12:24) And as a president of the United States, you make historical decisions in other issues which affect America and other world. (12:33) So what place in the world history do you want to take?

(12:38) And do you associate yourself with any famous historical figures?

(12:46) Yeah, I’d say George Washington, Abraham Lincoln. (12:49) I would say I’m far superior to George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. (12:55) Now, you know I’m only kidding, right?

(12:57) Because when I say that, the fake news is going to go wild. (13:00) They’re going to say he considers himself to be better than Washington. (13:03) But you never know.

(13:04) You never know. (13:05) I don’t compare myself to anybody. (13:07) I just I’m here to do a job.

(13:09) We’ve had a great 35 days or whatever it might be, a month, a little more than a month.(13:16) We’ve accomplished tremendous amounts. (13:18) Not only this, this would be a very great achievement if we could get the war stopped and get them back to normalization.

(13:25) I think that’s going to happen. (13:27) We’ve had very good talks on both sides, as you know. (13:29) But I think we’ve done a very good job.

(13:32) Just generally, if you look at all of the things we’ve done in 30 days, they’re saying there’s never been a opening for a president. (13:39) The first month, there’s never been a first month like we’ve had. (13:45) And this is one of the very important things.

(13:46) This to me is one of the most important things, because we have tremendous death taking place as we speak. (13:53) And I don’t want to have that. (13:55) You know, think of the parents.

(13:56) Think of the whether they’re in Russia or Ukraine. (13:59) Think of the parents of all these people being killed needlessly. (14:02) They came to our earth.

(14:04) Should have never started. (14:05) This would have if I were president. (14:08) This would have never started.

(14:09) Mr. President, will you continue sending military aid to Ukraine after the U.S. signs this agreement with Ukraine? (14:22) The question to President Zelensky, do you feel like the U.S. is on your side, that President Trump is on your side at this moment?

(14:35) What do you think? (14:36) He wants to know, do you think that sort of a stupid question?(14:41) I guess we wouldn’t be here if I wasn’t.

(14:45) I think that I think that the United States on our side from the very beginning of occupation.(14:51) And I think that President Trump on our side. (14:54) And of course, I’m sure that United States president will not stop support.

(15:02) This is crucial for us. (15:03) It’s important for us. (15:04) Yes.

(15:05) And Putin, the president speaks about the people and the soldiers which are dying, but they came to our territory. (15:11) They came to our land. (15:12) They began this war and they have to stop.

(15:16) And I think this is the question with really the most important question. (15:21) Can President Trump, I hope yes, with some other allies to stop Putin, withdraw these enemies, our enemies, withdraw these troops from our land. (15:32) And I think that you asked about the history.

(15:36) I think that if President or when he will stop Putin, if President Trump will bring peace to our country, I think he will be on this wall.

(15:47) We’ve had very, very good talks.

(15:55) President Zelensky just said that there’ll be no compromises with Putin. (16:01) I just wanted to ask both of you, firstly, are there compromises that you think that President Zelensky is going to have to make? (16:08) And President Zelensky, is there anything that you might be thinking that you may be able to offer or bring to the table, for example, elections?

(16:14) Thank you.

(16:15) I think you’re going to have to always make compromises. (16:18) You can’t do any deals without compromises. (16:20) So certainly he’s going to have to make some compromises, but hopefully they won’t be as big as some people think you’re going to have to make.

(16:27) That’s all. (16:27) It’s all we can do. (16:28) I’m here as an arbitrator, as a mediator, to a certain extent, between two parties that have been very hostile.

(16:36) To put it mildly, they’ve been very hostile. (16:38) There’s been a vicious war. (16:39) There’s been a vicious war.

(16:41) You know, it’s a very level battlefield. (16:43) And those bullets go out. (16:45) And as I’ve said many times, we were talking about it with Pete, many times the only thing stopping those bullets is a human body.

(16:53) And in the case we’re talking about, generally young human bodies are stopping a lot of bullets. (16:57) It’s dead level. (16:59) That’s why it’s great farmland.

(17:01) It’s great land. (17:02) It’s great farmland. (17:03) But there’s very little protection against the bullets that are being and other things that are being shot.

(17:09) So all I can do is see if I can get everybody at the table and get an agreement. (17:15) And I think we’re going to end up with an agreement. (17:16) Otherwise, I wouldn’t probably be even here today.

(17:21) Mr. President, I’ve got two questions for you. (17:25) You think ultimately your legacy will be the peacemaker and not the president that led this country into another war and ended foreign wars? (17:34) And I’ve got a question.

(17:35) I hope it will. (17:37) I mean, I hope I’m going to be remembered as a peacemaker. (17:42) This would be a great thing if we could do this.

(17:44) I’m doing this to save lives more than anything else. (17:47) Second is to save a lot of money. (17:49) But I consider that to be far less important.

(17:52) So I hope I’m going to thank you, Brian, for that question. (17:54) It was a nice question.(17:56) I hope I’ll be known and recognized as a peacemaker.

(17:59) This would be a great thing to solve. (18:01) This is a very dangerous situation. (18:04) You know, this could lead to a third world war.

(18:06) This was headed in the wrong direction. (18:10) If this election were lost, if we didn’t win this election, and by the way, we won it by a lot. (18:15) That was a mandate.

(18:16) We won every swing state. (18:17) We won the popular vote by millions and millions of votes. (18:21) We won everything.

(18:22) The districts, if you look at the areas of red, take a look at a map. (18:27) This was a big mandate. (18:28) And this was one of the things I said, we’re going to get this thing settled.

(18:33) If we didn’t win, I think this would have, this could have very well ended up in a third world war. (18:38) And that would not, that would not have been a good situation. (18:42) What was your second question?

(18:43) My second question for President Zelensky. (18:45) Do you ever, why don’t you wear a suit?(18:48) Why don’t you wear a suit?

(18:49) You’re the highest level in this country’s office and you refuse to wear a suit. (18:54) People just want to see, do you own a suit?

(18:56) Yeah, yeah, I have problems.

(18:58) A lot of Americans have problems with you not respecting the dignity of his office.

(19:02) I will wear a costume after this war will finish. (19:06) Yes. (19:07) Maybe one, maybe something like yours.

(19:11) Yes.

(19:11) Maybe some, something better. (19:13) I don’t know. (19:14) We will see.

(19:15) Maybe something cheaper than, yeah. (19:18) Thank you.

(19:21) Thank you.

(19:22) Thank you, President Trump. (19:23) You said yesterday that you… (19:24) Are you going to send more arms to Ukraine in case there’s no peace?

(19:28) Yeah, we’re going to have arms to Ukraine. (19:31) Yeah, sure. (19:32) Hopefully I won’t have to send very much because hopefully we’re going to have it finished.

(19:36) We’re looking forward to finishing this quickly. (19:39) We’re not looking forward to sending a lot of arms. (19:41) We’re looking forward to getting the war finished so we can do other things.

(19:46) But we very much appreciate the agreement because we needed what they had. (19:51) And we’re treating, you know, our country is now treated fairly. (19:55) Biden didn’t do that.

(19:56) Biden didn’t… (19:56) He didn’t know what the hell he was doing. (19:58) This should have never happened.

(19:59) This should have never started. (20:01) But, you know, sure, the answer is yes. (20:03) But hopefully we won’t have to send much because I’m looking forward to getting it done quickly, very quickly.

(20:12) Does that mean you won’t rely on security guarantees, Mr. President?

(20:15) I don’t want to talk about security yet because I want to get the deal done. (20:18) You know, you fall into the same trap like everybody else. (20:21) A million times you said over and over.

(20:23) I want to get the deal done. (20:24) Security is so easy. (20:26) That’s about 2% of the problem.

(20:28) I’m not worried about security. (20:30) I’m worried about getting the deal done. (20:32) The security is the easy part.

(20:34) Security is very nice. (20:35) Everybody stops shooting. (20:37) And now will Europe put people there?

(20:38) I know France is going to. (20:40) I know the UK is going to. (20:42) I know other countries are going to and they happen to be right next door.

(20:45) We haven’t committed, but we could conceivably… (20:48) We have security in a different form. (20:50) We’ll have workers there digging, digging, digging, taking the raw earth so that we can create a lot of great product in this country.

(21:00) So, in that sense, you have something. (21:01) But we haven’t determined that yet. (21:03) I will say, in speaking to France and in speaking to…

(21:07) And they were here, as you know, last week and just the other day. (21:12) They have committed to a lot of security. (21:15) I don’t think you’re going to need much security.

(21:17) I think once this deal gets done, it’s over. (21:20) Russia is not going to want to go back and nobody’s going to want to go back. (21:23) When this deal ends, I really believe this deal is going to be over.

(21:29) Yeah, please go ahead.

(21:30) Go ahead. (21:31) Thank you, sir.

(21:31) Mr. President, thank you. (21:33) You had Kirsten McCrong and Keir Starmer at the White House this past week, both of whom praised your courage and conviction to lead the pathway towards peace. (21:40) Yes.

(21:41) Part of that involved, though, re-engaging Russia in diplomatic relations, something that previous leaders lacked, the conviction to do so. (21:48) What gave you the moral courage and conviction to step forward and lead that?

(21:51) Well, I love this guy. (21:53) Who are you with? (21:54) One American News, sir.

(21:55) Well, that’s why I like him. (21:57) One American News does a great job. (21:58) It’s very…

(21:59) I like the question. (22:00) I think it’s a very good question. (22:02) It is…

(22:03) It’s a pathway to peace. (22:04) It’s a pathway to getting something solved. (22:08) And I feel that, as the head of this country, I have an obligation to do that.

(22:12) Plus, you know, we’re very much involved. (22:14) We got involved. (22:16) It’s too bad we got involved because there should have been no involvement because there should have been no war.

(22:21) And there shouldn’t have been October 7th. (22:23) That would have never happened.(22:24) As you know, Iran was broke.

(22:26) They had no money to give to Hezbollah. (22:28) They had no money to give to Hamas.(22:30) They were stone cold broke.

(22:32) And then under Biden, they became rich as hell. (22:36) They went from no money to $300 billion in a period of four years. (22:43) And they gave a lot of that money away.

(22:44) And you see what happened. (22:45) And that’s a real mess also that we hope to be able to solve. (22:50) But no, I appreciate your question very much.

(22:53) It’s just, I feel I have an obligation to try and do something to stop the death.

(22:59) If I can, if I can answer. (23:01) Yes, if I can answer. (23:02) Sorry.

(23:03) Please, please. (23:04) And I do like your clothing, though.

(23:06) Yeah, really?

(23:06) Even though I have to… (23:07) I think he’s a great guy, by the way. (23:09) But I don’t know if you two like each other.

(23:11) But you know what? (23:12) I think he’s great.

(23:14) I like this guy. (23:15) I think he’s dressed beautifully. (23:17) So I have more serious things than answer on such a question.

(23:21) I will answer on more serious questions if I can. (23:24) Yeah. (23:25) So please, about security guarantees and about just ceasefire.

(23:30) We can’t just speak about ceasefire and speak and speak. (23:33) It will not work. (23:35) Just ceasefire will never work because I’m like a president.

(23:39) I have this experience and not only me. (23:42) Ukraine, before my presidency from 2014, Putin broken 25 times. (23:50) 25 times he broken his own signature.

(23:55) 25 times he broken ceasefire.

(23:57) But he never broke to me.

(23:58) He never broke to me. (23:59) No, no, you were the president. (24:00) You were the president during…

(24:02) He never broke to me.

(24:02) In 2016, you’ve been the president, Mr. President. (24:06) You’ve been the president.(24:06) But he had, of course, not with you.

(24:09) But he had during those period, he had conversations with our side. (24:14) And we had Normandy format. (24:16) You know, the France, Germany, Ukraine, and Russia.

(24:19) And he broken 25 times. (24:21) That’s why we will never accept just ceasefire. (24:25) It will not work without security guarantees.

(24:27) Security guarantees, maybe president is right about this document and other. (24:32) But this document is not enough. (24:34) Strong army is enough because his soldiers afraid.

(24:37) Putin’s soldiers afraid of our soldiers when we strong enough. (24:41) If we are not strong enough, we are empty. (24:43) If our storage is empty, we can’t defend our land.

(24:48) Today, you know, he knows that we have… (24:50) All the world knows that we have meeting, yes? (24:53) Why he’s using ballistic?

(24:55) Putin today using ballistic on our hospitals, schools, and et cetera. (24:59) Ballistic. (25:00) So he knows that we are here and that President Trump is really have goodwill to stop this war.

(25:07) And you hear now the president. (25:10) So why he’s using? (25:11) So he doesn’t want to stop.

(25:13) He doesn’t want. (25:14) But I hope that we will do it. (25:15) Really, we’ll do it.

(25:16) Security, when we speak about security guarantees, when the Europeans are ready for contingents, they need USA backstop. (25:26) If there will not be United States, we will not never have any contingents, strong contingents from the Europeans because they don’t want to divide allies. (25:35) Connection between the United States and the main and strongest ally and Europeans.

(25:41) This is crucial. (25:42) This is important. (25:43) That’s what we want to speak about very much.

(25:46) This is very important. (25:47) And air defense. (25:50) So air defense.

(25:51) Really, we have big deficit with all the systems and we need to provide this. (25:56) We need it very much. (25:58) Otherwise, Putin will never stop and will go further and further.

(26:02) He doesn’t want. (26:03) He hate us, you know? (26:05) It’s not about me.

(26:06) He hate Ukrainians. (26:07) He thinks that we are not a nation. (26:09) He thinks and he shared this source.

(26:12) I think maybe with your team also. (26:13) I don’t know. (26:14) But with all the Europeans in media, officially and not, he always said that there is no such country, such nation, such language, and such life like Ukrainian.

(26:25) No, he really doesn’t respect all the Ukrainians and he wants destroy us. (26:33) And you are right, Mr. President. (26:36) That’s 2%.

(26:37) This document, maybe other documents. (26:40) It’s a very good start. (26:41) Very good.

(26:42) But it will not enough to stop this person. (26:57) During all the centuries, all the history, this is the rule of the war. (27:01) Who began, those paid.

(27:05) This is a rule.

(27:06) Putin began this war. (27:07) He has to pay all money for innovation. (27:10) He has to pay.

(27:11) Of course, some Russian assets, what we have in Europe, about 300 billions. (27:17) We can use them. (27:18) We can use for innovation and buy military support from the United States also.

(27:23) We can do it. (27:24) But it’s not enough. (27:26) It’s not enough.

(27:33) I ask this question that you didn’t like, because I wanted to know if you want to position yourself in the middle between Russia and Ukraine or on the Ukraine’s side.

(27:44) No, I’m in the middle. (27:45) I want to solve this thing. (27:46) I’m for both.

(27:48) I want to get it solved. (27:49) And it’s wonderful to speak badly about somebody else, but I want to get it solved. (27:57) If we can solve it, great.

(27:58) If we can’t solve it, they’re going to have to fight it out. (28:00) And who knows what’s going to happen. (28:03) But I want to see it get solved.

(28:05) May I follow up with one more question about U.S. troops in Europe. (28:09) After Russian invasion of Ukraine, your predecessors sent additional troops to Eastern Europe, including Poland, my country. (28:17) Are you committed to keeping these troops on the eastern flank of NATO in the future?

(28:27) I’m very committed to Poland. (28:29) I think Poland has really stepped up and done a great job for NATO. (28:33) As you know, they paid more than they had to.

(28:35) They are one of the finest groups of people I’ve ever known. (28:40) I’m very committed to Poland. (28:42) What about the Baltics?

(28:42) Poland’s in a tough neighborhood, you know. (28:44) What about the Baltics? (28:46) The Baltics.

(28:50) It’s a tough neighborhood too, but we’re committed. (28:53) We’re going to be very committed, and we’re committed to NATO. (28:56) But NATO has to step up, and the Europeans have to step up more than they have.

(29:01) And I want to see them equalized because they are in for far less than we’re in. (29:05) And they should be at least equal. (29:07) You understand that?

(29:08) Why is the United States, we have an ocean in between. (29:12) Why is the United States in for so much more money and other things as Europe? (29:17) With that being said, and as you said, they’ve also been obviously very helpful.

(29:21) But we have put in far more than they have. (29:24) And I think they should equalize.

(29:26) Mr. President, I’m going to ask you about the agreement again today. (29:30) What changed between the first time that Secretary Peskin gave President Zelensky the agreement and today for the signing?

(29:37) We made a deal. (29:39) I’m just, I’m a business person. (29:42) We made a deal.

(29:43) That’s what changed. (29:44) I didn’t think we were going to make a deal. (29:48) And we ended up making the deal.

(29:50) Mr. President, what and how do you envision a trilateral summit with President Zelensky and Putin?

(29:55) I don’t know, but it’s well, they don’t like each other. (29:57) I can tell you that.