Trump’s Advice for Zelensky on Ukraine-Russia Relations

During a recent Fox News appearance, former President Donald Trump shared his forthcoming advice for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky ahead of their meeting.

On the show “Hannity,” host Sean Hannity queried Trump about the guidance he plans to offer. Without pausing, Trump replied, “We’re going to trade. We’ve got to trade.”

Trump also took time to commend Russia’s military capabilities. He stated, “Russia is a huge force, and they have resources that Ukraine does not. They have exceptional soldiers and, well, the best equipment. They had our equipment, after all. In my first term, I had given them Javelins,” referring to Javelin anti-tank missiles.

In 2017, Trump approved a strategy to send substantial weapons to Ukraine, marking a significant enhancement in U.S. military backing for Ukraine’s struggle against Russian-backed separatists in the eastern region.

Earlier this year in May, Trump mentioned that discussions for a peace meeting would follow a conversation with President Putin, although Putin seemed reluctant regarding relations with Ukraine. By July, Trump had suggested arming Ukraine with offensive weapons while indicating that Russia could face “severe” sanctions if necessary, giving Putin a 50-day window to negotiate.

On July 28, Trump reiterated his commitment to shorten deadlines, threatening to impose significant tariffs on major Russian industries. In a final push, U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff had a three-hour meeting with Putin to explore potential peace talks.

On Friday, both Trump and Putin provided updates about the ongoing peace discussions, mentioning progress on several fronts, although no agreement has been finalized yet. Trump plans to give a brief overview to NATO leaders and Zelensky during discussions at the upcoming Alaska summit.