Trump praises Zelensky as courageous, says Ukraine is holding its own
U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters at the White House, alongside NATO Secretary‑General Mark Rutte, that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is “courageous” and “doing pretty well” in the war against Russia. He added that Zelenskyy “has great equipment, great men and fighters” and is “holding his own” despite heavy casualties on both sides.
The remarks came as Kyiv intensified attacks on Russia‑occupied Crimea, targeting energy infrastructure and transport links and sparking a fuel shortage on the peninsula. Ukraine’s defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov warned that Crimea could soon “turn into an island” as logistics are cut off. The United States continues to provide military aid, and Trump hinted at licensing Patriot air‑defence systems for production in Europe and Ukraine.
Trump’s comments followed the recent G7 summit in France, where he expressed renewed U.S. support for Ukraine and called for tougher sanctions on Russia. The statements have been noted by Moscow as a shift in U.S. rhetoric.