Donald Trump has now claimed Volodymyr Zelensky took American cash like ‘candy from a baby’ after suspending military aid and intelligence sharing with Kyiv in the space of a week
Donald Trump has slammed Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky, claiming he took US cash like “candy from a baby” on behalf of Ukraine.
“It was like taking candy from a baby what he did,” the US president told Fox News in an interview earlier this week. “He’s a smart guy, and he’s a tough guy, and he took money out of this country under Biden like candy from a baby – it was so easy with that same attitude.”
Trump once again suggested he does not believe Zelensky is “grateful” despite Zelensky has publicly thanked the US and its allies numerous times. The Mirror has approached his office for comment
Trump, who fell out publicly with his Ukrainian counterpart in an extraordinary row in front of TV cameras in the Oval Office in late February, also claimed he has been “tougher than anyone has ever been to Russia”. This is despite some of the president’s critics slamming the pressure Trump has exerted on Ukraine – which remains locked in a war with Vladimir Putin’s forces – by banning intelligence sharing and suspending the supply of military aid from the US.
In February, Trump also seemed to blame Ukraine for supposedly starting the war in 2022, despite Putin’s barbaric invasion. “I stopped the Russian pipeline, I’m the one that put sanctions on Russia, I’m the one that gave the Javelins, but I get along well with Putin,” Trump said.
“Nobody has been tougher on Russia than Donald Trump and they know that.” Trump was referring to his last presidency when in 2019 imposed sanctions on firms that helps Russia’s state-owned gas company and the undersea gas pipeline Nord Stream 2.
Trump has also threatened further sanctions,saying that Russia is “pounding” Ukraine on the battlefield. In a post on his Truth Social media platform on March 7, Trump said he his “strongly considering large scale Banking Sanctions, Sanctions, and Tariffs on Russia until a Cease Fire and FINAL SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT ON PEACE IS REACHED”. He added another message urging both Ukraine and Russia to negotiate “before it is too late”.
Today, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Pat McFadden said countries cannot be “dragooned” into the so-called coalition of the willing by the UK. McFadden has said that nations have to “step forward themselves” if they want to be part of the group of nations willing to defend a peace deal in Ukraine.
The UK and France have been leading efforts to get countries to commit to the peacekeeping coalition. Not all the countries interested in the plan would necessarily provide troops to a peacekeeping force, it is understood, but they could potentially contribute in other ways.
Diplomatic efforts to secure a peace deal will continue this week, with talks due between the US and Ukraine in Saudi Arabia. Defence Secretary John Healey is also expected to join discussions with his own counterparts.
