Trump’s Remarks on Ukraine and Peace Negotiations
In a recent address to a joint session of Congress, President Donald Trump stated that Ukraine is prepared to engage in negotiations and sign a significant minerals agreement, following a letter he received from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Trump emphasized that he is “working tirelessly” to put an end to what he termed the “savage conflict” in Ukraine, expressing gratitude for Zelensky’s letter, which was sent just prior to his speech.
The president further mentioned that his administration has been involved in “serious discussions with Russia” and has received “strong signals” indicating Russia’s readiness for peace. “Wouldn’t that be beautiful?” he rhetorically asked the audience. “It’s time to end the senseless war.” He urged, “It’s time to stop this madness.” Trump asserted that, “If you want to end wars, you have to talk to both sides.”
During his address, Trump also took the opportunity to criticize European nations for their spending habits, noting that they have allocated “more money buying Russian oil and gas” than on “defending Ukraine.” His comments come amid a growing rift between Kyiv and Washington following a tense exchange between the two leaders and the subsequent suspension of military aid to Ukraine by the United States.
In a significant shift, Zelensky called for a truce in the ongoing conflict, expressing his desire to “make things right” with Trump. This overture followed a phone conversation between Zelensky and UK Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, who is seeking to mediate between Kyiv and the White House to facilitate a resolution to their differences.
Despite the more conciliatory tone in his address, Trump continued to criticize the level of support for Ukraine from Europe. “Europe has sadly spent more money buying Russian oil and gas than they have on defending Ukraine, by far,” he remarked, highlighting the disparity in financial commitments. He stated, “Think of that. We’ve spent approximately $350 billion, like taking candy from a baby. That’s what happened, while they’ve spent about $100 billion. What a difference that is, especially with an ocean separating us.” Notably, Trump’s figure for U.S. spending is significantly higher than other estimates, which range from $120 billion to $183 billion.
Trump proceeded to read the letter he had received from Zelensky, which said, “Ukraine is ready to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible to bring lasting peace closer.” He reiterated Zelensky’s assertion that “nobody wants peace more than the Ukrainians” and noted that his team is prepared to work under “President Trump’s strong leadership to secure a lasting peace.” The letter also mentioned Ukraine’s readiness to sign an agreement regarding minerals and security at a time that suits Trump.
Throughout his 100-minute speech, Trump recounted his “swift and unrelenting action” during his initial weeks in office, highlighting his efforts to reshape the nation’s economy, immigration policy, and foreign relations. Indicating his willingness to escalate his trade war, he proclaimed, “Whatever they tariff us, we tariff them. Whatever they tax us, we tax them.”
Additionally, Trump praised tech mogul Elon Musk, who has been assigned the task of reducing the size and scope of the federal government. He stated that Musk is dedicated to “reclaiming democracy from this unaccountable bureaucracy.” The president also issued threats to federal workers, warning of potential firings if they resist his agenda. Musk, who was present in the House gallery, received enthusiastic standing ovations from Republican members of Congress as Trump exaggerated and repeated false claims regarding alleged government “abuse” uncovered by Musk and his team.
As Trump continued, he reiterated false claims that tens of millions of deceased individuals over the age of 100 are still receiving Social Security payments, prompting some Democrats in the chamber to shout, “Not true!” and “Those are lies!”
