Donald Trump Comments On Zelenskyy: ‘Don’t hold him responsible but I’m not exactly thrilled’: Trump shifts tone on Zelenskyy on Russia-Ukraine war

‘Don’t hold him responsible but I’m not exactly thrilled’: Trump shifts tone on Zelenskyy on Russia-Ukraine war (Picture credit score: AP)

US President Donald Trump on Thursday softened his tone for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and mentioned he does not blame him for the Russian invasion. However, he continued to criticise his management relating to the dealing with of the war.
“I don’t hold Zelenskyy responsible but I’m not exactly thrilled with the fact that that war started,” Trump informed reporters on the White House throughout a joint press convention with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. “I’m not blaming him, but what I am saying is that I wouldn’t say he’s done the greatest job, OK? I am not a big fan.”
This comes days after Trump accused Ukraine of beginning the war and blamed Zelenskyy for “millions” of deaths. The Ukrainian chief had earlier this week invited Trump to go to Ukraine to witness the destruction firsthand, throughout an interview with CBS. In response, Trump issued threats towards the broadcaster.
Meanwhile, Trump mentioned a long-delayed minerals settlement with Ukraine was more likely to be signed subsequent Thursday. “We have a minerals deal which I guess is going to be signed on Thursday… next Thursday. Soon. And I assume they’re going to live up to the deal. So we’ll see,” he mentioned.
Kyiv and Washington had beforehand been near finalising the settlement, but a heated conflict in February between Trump, Zelenskyy and US Vice President JD Vance on the White House had stalled progress.
Ukraine’s economic system minister Yulia Svyrydenko confirmed on X {that a} “Memorandum of Intent” had been signed with Washington for an “Investment Fund for the Reconstruction of Ukraine.”
While she supplied no particulars, Svyrydenko mentioned the memorandum marked important progress.
“There is a lot to do, but the current pace and significant progress give reason to expect that the document will be very beneficial for both countries,” she wrote.
According to The New York Times, the memorandum, signed through video name with US treasury secretary Scott Bessent, fell wanting a full minerals settlement. Bessent mentioned a remaining deal was anticipated by April 26 and famous the deal might permit the US to earn as much as $500 billion via entry to Ukraine’s uncommon earth assets.
Trump has framed the settlement as reimbursement for navy help despatched by the Biden administration.
Earlier drafts of the deal reportedly included plans to redirect a portion of Ukraine’s useful resource revenues to fund postwar reconstruction, a clause critics have described as exploitative. The doc signed on Thursday omitted such specifics, in addition to references to US safety ensures.