US President Donald Trump has stated that he would welcome Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s visit to Washington on Friday to sign a US–Ukraine economic partnership agreement. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office on Tuesday, Trump addressed reports from Kyiv indicating that the Ukrainian leader was set to travel to the US capital.
‘He wants to sign the agreement,’ Trump remarked, describing the proposed deal as ‘a major agreement’ that covers rare minerals and other economic interests.
The US president reiterated his longstanding criticism of American financial commitments to Ukraine, arguing that Washington has spent ‘hundreds of billions of dollars’ on the conflict between Ukraine and Russia—a war, he stated, ‘should never have started’. Trump contrasted this with Europe’s financial contributions, claiming that European nations have provided only around 100 billion dollars in loans, whereas the US has supplied between 300 billion and 350 billion dollars in aid and military support without guarantees.
Trump defended the proposed economic partnership by suggesting that it would generate returns exceeding the money the US has invested in Ukraine. ‘This deal ensures that American taxpayers see a return on their investment,’ he stated.
When asked about post-war peacekeeping efforts, Trump acknowledged the need for long-term stability and indicated that such efforts should be structured to satisfy all parties involved. He also reaffirmed his view that, in the future, Europe should assume greater responsibility for Ukraine’s military support. However, he assured that the US would maintain a military presence in Europe.
Trump confirmed his intention to continue supporting Ukraine following the economic agreement but reiterated that, without American assistance in recent years, the war ‘would have ended very quickly’. Regarding military aid, he suggested that arms deliveries could continue ‘for a while, at least until an agreement with Russia is reached’.
Expressing confidence in the potential for a swift resolution, Trump claimed that Russian President Vladimir Putin was also interested in a settlement. ‘I believe it can be resolved quickly because Putin wants that as well,’ he asserted.
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