Trump advises Zelenskyy to act more boldly against Russia
The Kyiv Independent has reported that US President Donald Trump privately advised President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to act "more boldly" against Russia.
Source: The Kyiv Independent, citing sources, as reported by European Pravda
Details: According to the outlet, Ukraine believes it has secured support from the Trump administration for a campaign aimed at forcing Russia to come to the negotiating table.
"Trump says he doesn't really believe [Vladimir] Putin will do anything without pressure," an unnamed Ukrainian official familiar with the details of Trump's recent meeting with Zelenskyy told the outlet.
While US officials did not confirm whether Trump explicitly supports Ukrainian strikes on Russian territory, they did say the US president views strength as a key factor.
One US official said that President Trump believes in peace through strength.
Ukrainian officials believe that recent developments on the battlefield have helped convince Trump that Kyiv is in a stronger position than it was at the beginning of the year.
This shift was reflected in the summit's concluding statements. Trump joined other G7 leaders in signing a joint declaration reaffirming unwavering support for Ukraine and stating that participating countries are ready to consider granting Ukraine licences for domestic weapons production.
Background:
- French President Emmanuel Macron has also spoken about a shift in Trump's position on Russia's war against Ukraine following the G7 summit.
- Meanwhile, the Kremlin complained that European leaders at the G7 summit in France had been feeding Trump "harmful ideas".
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