Washington, Feb 28, (V7N) – Ahead of a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President Donald Trump toned down his previous criticism of the leader, retracting comments where he had called Zelenskyy a "dictator." When asked about his previous remarks, Trump responded, "Did I say that? I can't believe I said that. Next question."

Trump's comments came as he welcomed UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to the Oval Office for a bilateral meeting. Tensions have been rising between the U.S. and European countries over the ongoing war in Ukraine, with Trump taking a different stance, engaging in negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, a break from U.S. policy.

“We have a very good relationship with President Putin, and I think I have a very good relationship with President Zelenskyy,” Trump said, signaling a shift in tone ahead of Zelenskyy’s upcoming visit to the White House.

Trump is expected to sign a deal with Zelenskyy that would see Ukraine provide revenue from its rare mineral resources to help repay the U.S. for its financial support of Ukraine since Russia’s invasion in 2022. “We need the rare earth,” Trump stated.

Earlier, Trump had criticized Zelenskyy on social media, calling him "a dictator without elections" in reference to the Ukrainian president canceling the 2024 spring elections due to the ongoing war. This comment came after Zelenskyy accused Trump of spreading misinformation.

Trump's comments have been partly fueled by disagreements over mineral rights, with Zelenskyy hesitant to part with these in exchange for continued U.S. support. Trump has suggested that the U.S. should "recoup" the money spent in support of Ukraine.

Addressing this, Trump said, “I think the president and I have had a very good relationship. It maybe got a little testy because we wanted to have a bit of what European nations get, where they receive something in return for their money. We don’t get the money back.” However, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer corrected Trump, saying, “We’re not getting all of ours,” referring to the aid provided by European countries.

The U.S. Congress has appropriated $175 billion for the war effort, with approximately $106 billion directed to Ukraine.

A key issue in the ongoing discussions is Ukraine’s request for security guarantees from the U.S. to ensure Russia does not reignite the conflict after the war ends. However, Trump made it clear that the U.S. would not provide security guarantees in exchange for mineral rights, stating, "I think Europe will largely be responsible for that."

Trump also repeated his trust in Russian President Vladimir Putin, noting that he believed Putin would honor any peace agreement, despite the ongoing U.S. investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. Trump added, "I’ve spoken to him. I’ve known him for a long time now. We had to go through the Russian hoax together. That was not a good thing. It was not fair."

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