Trump Criticizes Zelensky Over U.S. Aid in Fiery Interview

In a heated interview on Friday night, President Donald Trump directed sharp criticisms at Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, alleging that he has mismanaged the billions in U.S. aid allocated for Ukraine amidst the ongoing conflict with Russia.

Speaking with Bret Baier during a special report on Fox News, Trump suggested that Zelensky seemed less concerned with the actual amount of support coming from Washington and more focused on how the funds were allocated. “Money is money,” Trump remarked, expressing his frustration. “What bothered me – I didn’t want to see if it was, you know, sorry for me, I was angry.”

Trump accused Zelensky of being highly adept at securing U.S. funds, labeling him as the “greatest salesman in the world.” While discussing the substantial aid packages, Trump observed, “I hated seeing a check sent for $600 billion every time Zelensky visited Washington. Where will this money go?”

These comments arise as U.S. officials warn that current funding for Ukraine may run out by June. Since Russia’s invasion in February 2022, the U.S. has committed around $175 billion in aid.

When Baier attempted to transition the discussion towards potential sanctions on Russia, Trump chose instead to focus on the U.S. relationship with its allies in Ukraine. “We send checks. We don’t always send equipment. We send checks. We’ve been treated worse than in Europe by Ukraine,” he stated.

Looking ahead, Trump mentioned the possibility of a future meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, predicting he could facilitate a peace deal quickly. “I think we’ll do that quickly,” he said.