Quotes
After the president's post on Truth Social yesterday, I need to know—who does he think is more responsible for the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Putin or Zelensky?"
Doocy asked
This is the war in Ukraine, against us, and it's our human losses."
He added
So many people in Washington that were just demanding, pounding the table for a ceasefire in Gaza are suddenly aghast that the president would demand one and both sides come to the table when it comes to Ukraine—a war that has been arguably far greater in scope and scale and far more dangerous in terms of global escalation to U.S. security,
Waltz saidRather than enter into some constructive conversations about what that deal should be going forward, we got a lot of rhetoric in the media that was incredibly unfortunate,
Waltz told DoocyI will never accept any decisions between the United States and Russia about Ukraine, never."
Zelensky told NBC News' Kristen Welker on Meet the Press last week
We have a situation where we haven't had elections in Ukraine, where we have martial law, essentially martial law in Ukraine, where the leader in Ukraine, I hate to say it, but he's down at 4 percent approval rating, and where a country has been blown to smithereens."
President Donald Trump said at a press conference on Tuesday
We have seen this disinformation, we understand that it is coming from Russia ... [Trump] lives in this disinformation space."
Zelensky, referring to Trump's comments, told reportersWe have to bring an end to the conflict. President Trump is exactly right. It's time for it to end, and he (Trump) is the brute force, I think, that can make that happen."
Noting
I mean, what Trump's trying to do is... put the conditions in place for that real negotiation, negotiation to happen and we've got to allow him to do what he does,
Johnson saidWe have to bring (the war) to an end. And I can tell you that our European allies understand the necessity as well. It's (dragged) on too long,
Johnson saidThere's no appetite for that,
Johnson told Newsmax during the Conservative Political Action Conference when asked - to a chorus of boos from the right-leaning audience - if he foresaw another funding bill for Ukraine, if it takes several more months before the war ends
Europe’s best security interests and America’s best security interests are satisfied by an end to this war in Ukraine and by a strong, unified Nato. That’s an argument that we are having and have discussed with the Americans and will continue to make.”
Meanwhile, Britain’s defence minister John Healey added his voice to those in support of Mr Zelensky, saying
It’s unacceptable: [Ukraine] need to tone it down and take a hard look and sign that deal.”
Urging Ukraine to rein in its response, White House national security adviser Michael Waltz said in an interview on Fox News
The idea that Zelensky is going to change the president’s mind by badmouthing him in public media ... everyone who knows the president will tell you that is an atrocious way to deal with this administration.”
Mr Vance saidYou can’t call this $500bn and ask us to return $500bn in minerals or something else. This is not a serious conversation,
Mr Zelensky saidWe presented the Ukrainians, really, [with] an incredible and a historic opportunity,
said Mr WaltzIt’s good to see you. How are you?”
The pair shook hands and patted each other on the back; Mr Zelensky smiled and said
I think [Trump] did this out of pique because he saw Zelensky pushing back on things that Trump wanted.”
Kurt Volker, the US special representative for Ukraine negotiations during President Trump’s first term, saidI can’t sell our state.”
Mr Zelensky has publicly rejected the American president’s attempt to take Ukraine’s minerals, sayingSome of the rhetoric coming out of Kyiv, frankly, and insults to President Trump were unacceptable,
Waltz said on Thursday, in an apparent reference to those comments