Zelensky should be 'more appreciative' of US support, says Trump

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky should be more appreciative of the United States because America has stuck with Ukraine through thick and thin, President Donald Trump said Monday as he warned that if somebody doesn't want to make a deal, that person won't be around very long.

“He (Zelensky) should be more appreciative because this country has stuck with them through thick and thin. We've given them much more than Europe, and Europe should have given more than us because, as you know, that's right there. That's the border. This country really was like the fence on the border,” Trump told reporters at the White House.

The President was responding to a question on his Oval Office meeting with Zelensky last Friday, which went off the rails. “We (US) gave USD350 billion, they (Europe) probably gave USD100. But on top of it all, they get their money back because they are doing it in the form of a loan and it's a secured loan,” he said.

Reiterating that he wants an end to the war as soon as possible, Trump said this requires all stakeholders on negotiating table.

“I'll tell you what, I think it takes two to tango and you're going to have to make a deal with Russia. And you're going to have to make a deal with Ukraine. You're going to have to have the assent and you're going to have to have the consent from the European nations because I think that's important, and from us. I think everybody has to get into a room so to speak and we have to make a deal,” he said.

The peace deal, he asserted, can be made very fast. “It should not be that hard a deal to make. It could be made very fast. Now maybe somebody doesn't want to make a deal, and if somebody doesn't want to make a deal, I think that person won't be around very long. That person will not be listened to very long because I believe that Russia wants to make a deal,” he said.

Trump said he believes that the people of Ukraine want to make a deal. They've suffered more than anybody else. “We have to make a deal because there are a lot of people being killed that shouldn't be killed. But remember, Trump gave them nothing and the other presidents gave them a lot,” said the president.

(Courtesy: www.5wh.com)