Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated it’s a “pity” that he was not invited to affix Donald Trump’s summit with Vladimir Putin in Alaska final month, declaring that the U.S. president gave the Russian dictator “what he wanted.” (Watch video beneath)
In an interview with ABC Information’ Martha Raddatz in Ukraine broadcast on Sunday, Zelenskyy stated the Anchorage summit on Aug. 15 afforded a chance to Putin to indicate the world that he’s welcomed on U.S. soil.
“It’s a pity that Ukraine was not there, because I think that President Trump gave Putin what he wanted,” Zelenskyy stated. “Putin doesn’t want to meet with me, but he wants very much to meet with the president of the United States, to show everybody video and images that he’s there.”
Trump has beforehand expressed frustration at criticism of his resolution to afford Putin the assembly. Whereas Trump actually rolled out the carpet for Putin and invited the Russian chief to trip with him within the Beast, the armored presidential limousine, the U.S. president nonetheless insisted that it “actually, it was very hard for President Putin to do so.”
AP Picture/Julia Demaree Nikhinson
Putin lately claimed that he could be comfortable to fulfill Zelenskyy for peace negotiations in Moscow, a suggestion that was predictably swiftly rebuffed by Ukrainian officers.
Zelenskyy reiterated that there isn’t a manner he would sit down with Putin within the Russian capital and careworn that Putin is aware of his provide is unacceptable and is simply “playing games.”
“He can come to Kyiv,” Zelenskyy stated of Putin. “I can’t go to Moscow when my country is under missiles, under attacks each day. I can’t go to this capital of this terrorist.”
In the meantime, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent advised NBC’s “Meet the Press” what he believes must occur for Putin to significantly have interaction in peace negotiations.
“If the U.S. and the EU can come in, do more sanctions, secondary tariffs on the countries that buy Russian oil, the Russian economy will be in full collapse and that will bring President Putin to the table,” Bessent stated.
Trump, although, has but to punish Russia whilst Putin has repeatedly ignored his deadlines for stopping assaults on Ukraine. On Sunday, the day when Moscow launched its largest aerial assault of the struggle, Trump advised reporters he was “not happy” in regards to the state of the battle however projected confidence that he would handle to dealer peace between the 2 nations.
“I think we’re going to get it settled,” Trump stated.