THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — President Donald Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the NATO summit on Wednesday, where he emphasized that increased funding by NATO could deter future Russian aggression against its neighbors.
NATO allies have agreed to raise their spending goals to 5% of their gross domestic product by 2035 for core defense and security-related expenses, up from the previous target of 2%.
“Europe stepping up to take more responsibility for security will help prevent future disasters like the horrible situation with Russia and Ukraine,” Trump remarked during a news conference following his meeting with Zelenskyy. “And hopefully we’re going to get that solved.”
Trump reaffirmed his view that Russian President Vladimir Putin is eager to conclude the ongoing war in Ukraine, which began with Russia’s invasion in February 2022. “He’d like to get out of this thing. It’s a mess for him,” Trump stated. “He called the other day, and he said, ‘Can I help you with Iran?’ I said, ‘No, you can help me with Russia.’”
This meeting marked their first in-person discussion since April when they crossed paths at St. Peter’s Basilica during Pope Francis’ funeral. They had a previous significant confrontation earlier this year at the White House.
Zelenskyy shared on social media that their talks were fruitful, expressing gratitude for U.S. assistance. “We discussed how to achieve a ceasefire and a real peace. We spoke about how to protect our people. We appreciate the attention and the readiness to help bring peace closer,” he said.
Trump hinted at the possibility of sending more U.S.-made Patriot air defense missile systems to Kyiv. When questioned by a Ukrainian reporter, whose husband serves as a soldier, he acknowledged that increasing supplies of Patriots would bolster Ukraine’s efforts. “They do want to have the antimissile missiles, OK, as they call them, the Patriots,” he said. “And we’re going to see if we can make some available. We need them, too. We’re supplying them to Israel, and they’re very effective, 100% effective. Hard to believe how effective. They do want that more than any other thing.”
Throughout the war, the U.S. has urged allies to supply air defense systems to Ukraine, yet many nations remain hesitant, particularly those in Eastern Europe that share similar threats from Russia.
During the news conference, Trump was critical of U.S. media but expressed notable empathy towards the Ukrainian reporter. “That’s a very good question,” he responded to her inquiry about Patriots. “And I wish you a lot of luck. I mean, I can see it’s very upsetting to you. So say hello to your husband.”
While Ukraine has been a key focus at recent NATO meetings, Zelenskyy was not present in the main session as the summit commenced in the Netherlands. The Trump administration previously blocked Ukraine’s attempts to join NATO.
The ongoing conflict with Russia has devastated Ukrainian towns and claimed thousands of civilian lives, including a large drone assault launched by Russia just last week.
As Trump campaigns for the 2024 election, he has vowed to rapidly resolve the conflict, criticizing it as an unnecessary drain on U.S. resources that would not have occurred had he been re-elected in 2020. Since his return to office, he has expressed frustration with both Putin and Zelenskyy over the impasse.
On Tuesday, Zelenskyy met with various leaders in The Hague, securing a commitment from the Netherlands for military support, which includes new drones and radar systems to counter Russian drone attacks. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that the UK will provide 350 air defense missiles to Ukraine, financed by £70 million ($95 million) generated from interest on seized Russian assets.
Madhani reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Jill Lawless in London and Molly Quell contributed to this report.