US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is doing 'pretty well' in the war against invading Russian forces, a shift from earlier comments where Trump claimed Zelensky lacked the 'cards' to win. Speaking to journalists in the Oval Office, Trump acknowledged Zelensky's resilience.
Trump's Remarks on Zelensky's Performance
'He's doing pretty well. He's holding his own, at least. A lot of people dying on both sides, but I think he's doing pretty well,' Trump said. He added, 'You have to say he's courageous, he's got great equipment, but he's got great men, he's got fighters.' The conflict has now lasted longer than World War I, with analysts noting Ukraine's improved battlefield performance but continued vulnerability to deadly Russian attacks on its cities.
Recent G7 Summit Meeting
Trump and Zelensky most recently met during the G7 summit in France, where leaders agreed to intensify pressure on Russia to end more than four years of war with Ukraine. Following the meeting, Zelensky posted on Twitter that he was 'grateful to President Trump for his attention to Ukraine and his readiness to help bring peace closer.'
Sanctions and Oil Waivers
Trump emerged from the G7 meeting voicing a renewed interest in reimposing sanctions on Russian oil. Prior to the summit, Washington had imposed and then extended a sanctions waiver for Russian oil cargoes already at sea, a move that troubled European allies. The waiver allowed certain shipments to proceed despite broader sanctions aimed at pressuring Moscow.
