By Gill Bikram Singh 
US President Donald Trump has once again taken a swipe at Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, accusing him of not being “grateful” for the financial aid provided by the United States. In an interview with Fox News, Trump compared Ukraine receiving “$350 billion” in US assistance to “taking candy from a baby.”
His remarks follow tensions between the US and Ukraine after a heated Oval Office meeting on February 28, which resulted in Trump halting all military funding to Kyiv. Zelensky later apologized, but Trump remains critical of his stance.
Speaking to Maria Bartiromo on Sunday Morning Futures, Trump claimed, “He [Zelensky] took money out of this country under Biden like taking candy from a baby. It was so easy with that same attitude.”
Trump defended his record on Russia, stating that he had imposed tough sanctions on Moscow, including restrictions on the Russian gas pipeline during his first term. “Nobody has been tougher on Russia than Donald Trump, and they know that,” he added.
He also asserted that if he had been in office in 2022, Russia would not have invaded Ukraine. Additionally, he claimed that Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, would not have occurred under his leadership.
When asked about the US-Ukraine mineral deal, which was a key topic during his recent meeting with Zelensky, Trump said he “thinks” it will still proceed.
Trump’s remarks come a day after billionaire Elon Musk warned that Ukraine’s frontline defenses could collapse if he decided to “turn off” the Starlink satellite internet system, which has been crucial for Ukraine’s military communications.