In response to a journalist’s question about whether Russia could be defeated in war, U.S. President Donald Trump replied that he had “asked a question to a very, very smart man that some people like and some people don’t like,” then naming Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán.
“He’s in that same area and knows the two countries very well,” Trump continued, before telling press that in response to his question, Orbán “looked at me like, ‘What a stupid question.’”
The Hungarian leader then told Trump: “Russia’s a massive country, and they win their life through wars. They fight wars, that’s what they do,” adding that while China gets you with trade, Russia gets you with war.
Trump was quick to note, however, that China has not beaten the U.S. in trade while he’s been in charge, reminding press that China had to pay $400 billion in tariffs during his last administration.
Donald Trump says his planned meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday will be exploratory and could be constructive. He added that the initiative came from Russia and that he will use the opportunity to push the Russian president to end the war.
“I would like to see a ceasefire and the best possible agreement that is possible for both sides,” said Trump.
The president said he expects a constructive meeting with the Russian leader, adding that he will immediately inform Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders about what kind of agreement is possible.
Trump also mentioned among the possible outcomes of the planned meeting with the Russian president that he will get up from the table and say, “I’m done.”
“We will see what President Putin’s vision is, and if it is a fair agreement, we will convey it to the leaders of the European Union, to the leaders of NATO, and of course to President Zelensky, who I will call first out of respect, I think,” said the American president, adding that he might even conclude, “Good luck, keep fighting,” but also that an agreement is possible.
The U.S. president also said that the next meeting should be between Zelensky and Putin, and stressed that he was working to make it happen and would participate as a third party if necessary. At one point in his press conference yesterday, he indicated that he may just leave the two in the room alone together.
Trump stated that he has never been a friend of Russia, but has always gotten along well with President Putin, and also explained that he gets along well with Ukrainian President Zelensky. He still, however, noted that he “very, very severely disagrees with what he’s done” and that this war “should never have happened,” seemingly reverting back to blaming Ukraine for the war despite Russia being the aggressor and Ukraine being aggressively pushed by the Biden admin. Trump also laid blame squarely at Biden’s feet for the war both happening in the first place and being prolonged.
Trump said his goal is for Ukraine to regain certain prime coastal areas currently under Russian occupation. Again, he took aim at Zelensky, saying he was “a little bothered” by Zelensky saying he needs constitutional approval for any land swaps when he did not need any approval “to go to war and kill everybody,” again seemingly suggesting Ukraine should not have defended itself or indicating that the Biden admin worked with Zelensky to prod Moscow to attack in the first place.
