U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a joint press conference on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara. Trump spoke about the possibility of producing Patriot in Ukraine, long-range strikes on Russia, security guarantees and work on a peace deal.
This became known from the broadcast of the press conference.
Trump suggested that the United States could grant Ukraine a license to produce Patriot missiles. According to him, this step is possible.
“A little bird told me that we will give them the right to make Patriot, we will show how to make them. This is a very technically complicated thing,” Trump said, adding that Ukraine “will handle it quickly.”
The U.S. president also said he has friendly relations with Zelenskyy. In his opinion, this is “only the beginning.”
Trump noted that he had previously thought this war would be “the easiest,” but Putin is a “complex character.” At the same time, he called Zelenskyy “not easy” and said that in recent weeks “serious progress” had been made on the issue of ending the war in Ukraine.
“We’ll see how it all works out,” the U.S. president added.
Journalists also asked Trump to comment on Ukraine’s long-range strikes on Russian territory. In response, he gave the floor to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Rubio noted that Ukraine and the United States are discussing Kyiv’s capabilities to strike deep into Russia so that Moscow can see how difficult it is to defend its airspace. According to the secretary of state, Washington hopes that such actions will open space for negotiations on ending the war.
After that, Trump said: “This is an escalation, but it can help lead to its end.”
When asked why Putin is supposedly ready for a settlement, the U.S. president replied that it is because he had spoken with him several times. Answering whether he is ready to impose additional sanctions against Russia, Trump said that Putin is under “great pressure.”
“I don’t think he likes what is happening,” he said.
When asked whether the United States would be ready to offer security guarantees to Ukraine, Trump answered affirmatively.
“We want to do this, we want to do this to save lives. I am trying to save lives,” the U.S. president said.
Trump also suggested that he could come to Ukraine “at the right time.” Answering whether he is ready to go to Ukraine, he said he is ready to do so, calling Kyiv “a beautiful place.” At the same time, Trump joked that the U.S. Secret Service “would not be thrilled” about it.
Separately, the U.S. president said that a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia “has been in the works for a long time” and has both advantages and disadvantages.
