Camilla Jessen
Donald Trump says the U.S. gave too many weapons to Ukraine under Biden.
President Donald Trump said on Thursday that the U.S. gave away too many weapons to Ukraine under President Joe Biden, warning that the country’s own security might be at risk.
Speaking to reporters before flying to Iowa, Trump claimed that Biden “emptied our entire country by giving them guns.”
This is Trump’s first public comment on the recent pause in some U.S. military deliveries to Ukraine.
He suggested that support for Ukraine isn’t ending completely, saying, “We’ve given them so many weapons,” and added, “we’re working with them and trying to help them.”
Trump Shares Details of Call With Putin
Trump also said he had a “fairly long conversation” on Thursday with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
He noted that Putin “made no progress” toward ending the war in Ukraine, despite Trump’s earlier promises to resolve the conflict quickly.
“I’m not happy about that,” Trump said.
The Kremlin described the call as “candid and constructive,” according to Russian officials.
It was the sixth confirmed conversation between the two leaders since Trump returned to office.
Talks Continue Over Ukraine and the Middle East
Putin, according to his adviser Yuri Ushakov, stressed the need to resolve tensions in the Middle East through diplomacy.
The leaders agreed to keep U.S. and Russian officials in contact over the issue. This comes after the U.S. struck targets in Iran on June 22, as part of its ongoing support for Israel’s military actions against Iran’s nuclear program.
Regarding Ukraine, Ushakov said Trump is pushing for a quick end to the fighting.
Putin, meanwhile, repeated that Moscow is open to talks with Ukraine but insisted that Russia will continue its efforts to reach its goals.
Ushakov said that Putin referred to earlier peace talks in Turkey, which had led to some humanitarian progress, but made clear: “Russia will not back down from these goals.”
