President Donald Trump appeared to make a U-turn on his opinion on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, denying he ever called him a dictator.
When asked about that comment, he told reporters in the Oval Office: ‘Did I say that? I can’t believe I said that. Next question.’
Trump called Zelensky a ‘dictator’ last weekend when speaking at a Saudi-backed investment meeting in Florida..meanwhile, Zelensky was democratically elected by the people of the Ukraine.
The president also used the term on social media: ‘A Dictator without Elections, Zelenskyy better move fast or he is not going to have a Country left.’
Trump has used tough and harsh language about the Ukrainian leader as he tries to pressure him into signing a peace deal with Russia. Zelensky is scheduled to visit the White House today (Friday) at 11 am.
Trump said he has ‘a lot of respect’ for the Ukrainian president.
‘I think we’ll have a very good meeting tomorrow morning. We’ll get along really well. We have a lot of respect. I have a lot of respect for him. We’ve given him a lot of equipment and a lot of money but they have fought very bravely,’ he said.
Before he sits down with Zelensky, Trump is meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. On Monday he hosted French President Emmanuel Macron.
Both European leaders have agreed to send troops to the Ukraine to enforce any peace deal. But they want Trump to agree to a ‘backstop’ of U.S. supplies in order to ensure Russian President Vladimir Putin doesn’t launch another invasion.
