The issue of Ukraine was mentioned, among other serious issues, by US President Donald Trump in his first speech to Congress since the start of his second term, during which he took stock of the six weeks he has been in the White House.
However, the language and tone he used this time could be said to be very different from the one he had last week during his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in his Oval Office, which resulted in the decision to suspend all US military aid to Ukraine.
The US president said he received "an important letter" from the Ukrainian leader, which he "appreciated," he said.
Trump referred to the alleged contents of the letter, which he said included Ukrainians' gratitude for U.S. support in the three years following Russia's full-scale invasion of Kiev, a promise by Zelensky and his team "to work under the strong leadership of President Trump to achieve a peace that will last," and a commitment to sign a minerals deal with Washington.
"I appreciate him sending this letter — I just received it a little while ago," Trump said in his speech.
"At the same time, we have had serious discussions with Russia and received strong messages that they are ready for peace," Trump added. "Wouldn't that be beautiful?"
But these phrases have nothing to do with the harsh tone that Trump has been using on Ukraine for weeks.
The Kremlin responded by praising the Trump administration and saying that the United States' vision is now largely aligned with their own.
In fact, Zelensky proposed a limited ceasefire with Russia on Tuesday and said his country is willing to move forward with a minerals and security deal with the U.S.
“Our meeting in Washington, at the White House on Friday, did not go as it should have. It is unfortunate that it happened this way,” Zelensky wrote on X on Tuesday. “It is time to make things right. We would like future cooperation and communication to be constructive.”
Source: skai.gr
