Transcription
Well, thank you very much. It's an honor to have president Zelensky of Ukraine, and we've been working very hard, very close. So we've actually known each other for a long time. We've been, dealing with each other for a long time and very well. We had little negotiation spat, but that worked out great, I think, for for both countries.
I think for the world, actually, beyond both countries. And we have something look forward to getting in and digging, digging, digging, and working and getting some of the rare earth. But it means we're gonna be inside, and it's, it's a big commitment from The United States, and we appreciate working with you very much. And, we will continue to do that. We have had some very good discussions with Russia.
I spoke with president Putin, and we're gonna try and bring this to a close. It's something that you want and that he wants. We have to negotiate a deal, but we've, started the confines of a deal, and I think something can happen. The big thing is the, number of soldiers mostly at this point, but soldiers being killed. They're losing thousands of soldiers.
So on both sides, we're losing a lot of soldiers, and we wanna see it stop. And we wanna see the money get put to different kinds of use, like rebuilding the rebuilding. And we're gonna be working very hard, but we've had a lot of very good conversations. I will say until we came along, the Biden administration didn't speak to Russia whatsoever. They didn't speak to anybody.
They just allowed this to continue. And, I will say that, I'll say in front of you, you've heard me say it a thousand times. If I were president, this war would have never happened. We would have had a deal negotiated for you without having to go through what you've gone through. But you, your soldiers have been unbelievably brave.
We've given them great equipment, but they somebody has to use the equipment. They've been unbelievably brave, and we give them great credit. This was supposed to be over very quickly, and, here we are three years later. So I give, tremendous credit to your generals and your soldiers and yourself in the sense that, it's been very hard fighting, very tough fighting. They have great fighters, and, you have to be very proud of them from that standpoint.
But now we wanna get it over with. It's enough, right, if we wanna get it over with. So, it's an honor to have you here. Thank you very much for coming. We're gonna sign, the agreement at the conference in the East Room in a little while, right after lunch, and we'll be having lunch together.
We're also discussing some other things, and we appreciate everybody being here. It's, somewhat of an exciting moment, but the really exciting moment is when we get a when they stop the shooting and we end up with a deal. And I think we're fairly close to getting that, and, an honor to have you. And please, I'd like to say something. No.
Thank you so much, mister president. Thank you for invitation. And, really, I hope that this, document first document will be first step to real security guarantees for Ukraine, our people, our children. I really count on it. And, of course, we count that America will not stop support.
Really, for us, it's very important to support and to continue course, the infrastructure or security guarantees. Because for today, I understand what Europe is ready to do, and, of course, I want to discuss with you what United States will be ready to do. And, I really count on your strong position to stop Putin, and, and you said that enough with the war. I think that is very important, Ben, to say these wars to Putin at the very beginning, at the very beginning of war because he is a killer and terrorist. But I hope that together we can stop him.
But for us, it's very important to, you know, to save our country, our values, our freedom, and democracy. And, of course, no compromises with the killer about our territories, but it will be later. And, of course, I what I wanted you know, we spoke about it by phone with you about the drones production. We have very good drones production. I think the best one in the world for today because of the war.
Yes. And, of course, we need very much, the air defense. You have the best air defense in the world, and, really, you helped us under attacks of Russians. And I want to speak how we can exchange the licenses. We're open to share the licenses of all our drones with you, of course, with The United States, and we need licenses for quick production of air defense.
Even after the war, we need our nation to be calm that we are secured. So that's why we need this air shield. And, of course, about this, I want to speak about the contingents. I think that France and UK already spoke to you, and we know that Europe is ready. But without United States, they will not be ready to be as strong as we need.
And, the last point, last not least, about exchange, about our people and children. And you know that this crazy Russian that they stolen 20,000 of children, Ukrainian children, they changed their names. They changed their, you know, their families, relatives, and, now they're in Russia. We want to bring them back. And, really, it's a big big dream task and goal for me and and our warriors.
We by the way, mister Brown, we brought we exchange we, yes, released more than 4,000 warriors from Russian prison, but there are thousands more in the prison. I wanted to share with you some some images, how how it's I've just just can can I can I now Yeah? Please. Have I close some minute one minute. One minute.
Adjust you to understand what the in what circumstances and what situation they are and what the attitude of Russia to our prisoners. That guys, just you before before and after. Mhmm. And you see before and after. Just you try to understand.
Now, thousands of such guys, ladies and men, they're and that's so they don't eat. They beat them, and they, you know, it's a a lot of a lot of, you know, bad things. So out out of even during the war, there are rules. Everybody knows there are rules during the war. These guys, they don't have any rules.
You see that? Fifty, sixty kilograms left and and a lot of such things. And I didn't want to show you what what the changes with images of children because I will share just share with you. And, I mean, it's looking tragic. No.
That's tough stuff. Yeah. Yeah. I wanted very much to to give you and you you see it. Yeah.
This is pastor, by the way. They're stolen pastors because it's not Russian church. They're stolen pastors and moved pastors to the prison. We at the end of last year, we we brought three pastors, and, we we could exchange them. This is pastor, you see.
Yeah. It's, Yeah. Yeah. So I mean, this I wanted to to show you and, this. So thank you very much.
We wanna get that entered. Correct? Yeah. Yeah. Of course.
We of course. We will. I think we will. I think we will. And, we have to.
Of course. Do you have any questions, please? Mister president. Mister president. Mister president.
Mister president. Mister president. Mister president. Mister president. Mister president.
Mister president. Mister president. With the, how much money is The US gonna put into the fund that that is being created today, and how does this provide long term security for Ukraine? Well, we don't know exactly how much because we're gonna be putting some money in a fund, that we're gonna get from the raw earth that we're gonna be taking and, sharing in terms of revenue. So it's gonna be a lot of money will be made from the sale and from the use of raw earth.
And as you know, our country doesn't have much raw earth. We have a lot of oil and gas, but we don't have a lot of the raw earth. And what we do have is protected by the environmentalists, but that could be unprotected. But still, it's not very much. They have, among the best in the world in terms of raw earth.
So we're going to be using that, taking it, using it for all of the things we do, including AI and including weapons and the military, and it's, really gonna very much satisfy our needs. So it's something that just worked out, really well. We have a lot of oil, and we have a lot of gas. We have a lot, but we don't have raw earth. So, this, this has just about every component of the raw earth that we need for computers, for all of the things we do.
And Those puts us in great shape. And a long term security for Ukraine. How does this provide? I think they're gonna have great luck. I think once we make the agreement, that's gonna be 95% of it.
It's they're not gonna go back to fighting. I've spoken with president Putin, and, I think I mean, I feel very strong. I've known him for a long time, and I feel very strongly that, they're very serious about it. And we'll make a deal. And when the deal is made, I don't think we talk about security.
Everyone's talking about the other day, all they talked about was security. I said, let let me make the deal first. I have to make the deal first. I don't worry about security right now. I gotta have to we have to have a deal because right now, last week, two thousand soldiers died on both sides.
Two thousand. And they're losing a thousand, two thousand, three thousand a week. So as we sit here and we talk, people are getting shot and dying on the battlefield. And, you know, they're not American soldiers, but they're Russian soldiers and they're Ukrainian soldiers, and we wanna be able to stop it. And we wanna be able also to spend money on other things.
We don't wanna this is a tremendous amount of money, and what the Biden administration did was terrible. They were giving money, but he had no security on the money. Europe, as you know, gave much less money, but they had security. It was in the form of a loan. They get their money back, and we didn't.
And now, at least, we're protected because the American taxpayer has to be protected too. But, this is a an incredible agreement for Ukraine because we have a big investment in their country now. And and what what they have, very few people have. And we're able to, really go forward with very, very high-tech things and many other things, including weaponry, weaponry that we're gonna use in many locations, but that we need for our country. Country.
Mister president This allows this allows us to do this. What we're gonna do? Sorry. I'm sorry. Yes.
Go ahead, please. If if I can just, yes. In the document, there is one of the very important points, if we speak about business and investment. We never had LNG terminals in Ukraine. This document will open.
I mean, the next document, but, anyway, the the here we see in the framework, we we see we see a really good will for this. Energy terminals for us is very important, and I think for security of European continent. We have the biggest storage, gas storage. We have the biggest in Europe. Yes.
It's yeah. And we can use it. You get for LNG. Use it for for LNG, and we will do it. And, really, we we can help Europe because Europe really helped.
President Trump said that they made less support, but they have our friends and they are our very supportive, partners. They really gave a lot, miss Fred. They really they did. I They gave a lot, but they gave much less. No.
Much less. No. At least No. Not good. No.
Okay. Okay. Mister president Trump, you have repeatedly called the deal with Ukraine as as a historical one. And, as a president of The United States, you make historical decision in other issues, which affect America and other world. So, what place in the world history do you want to take?
And do you associate yourself with any famous historical figures? I'd say George Washington, Abraham Lincoln. I would say I'm far superior to George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. Now you know I'm only kidding. Right?
Because when I say that, the fake news is gonna go wild. They're gonna say he considers himself to be better than Washington. But you never know. You never know. I don't compare myself to anybody.
I just I'm here to do a job. We've had a great thirty five days or whatever it might be, a month, a little more than a month. We've accomplished tremendous amounts. Not only this, this would be a very great achievement if we could get this the war stopped and get them back to normalization. I think that's gonna happen.
We've had very good talks on both sides, as you know. But, I think we've done a very good job just generally. If you look at all of the things we've done in thirty days, they're saying there's never been a, opening for a president. The first month, there's never been a first month like, like we've had. And this is one of the very important things.
This, to me, is one of the most important things because we have tremendous death taking place as we speak, and I don't wanna have that. You know, think of the parents. Think of the whether they're in Russia or Ukraine, think of the parents of all these people being killed needlessly. They came to all this earth. Should have never started.
This would if I were president, this would've never started. Mister president, where has the opposition? Mister president Trump? We're gonna continue sending military aid to Ukraine after, The US signs this agreement with Ukraine. Yeah.
Would it be continued? President Zelensky. Do you feel like The US is on your side, that the press the the president Trump is on your side at this, at this moment? What do you think? He wants to know, do you think that sort of a stupid question.
I guess I guess we wouldn't be here if I wasn't. Yeah. I think that I think that The United States on our side from the very beginning of occupation, and, I think that president Trump on our side. And and, of course, I'm not I'm sure that United States President will not stop support. This is crucial for us.
It's important for us. Yes. And Putin president speaks about the people and the soldiers which are dying, but they came to our territory. They came to our land. They begin this war, and they have to stop.
And, I think on on this is the question with really the most important question. Can president Trump, I hope yes, with some other allies to stop Putin withdraw these enemies, our enemy, withdraw these troops from our land. And I think that you asked about the history about the I think that if president or when he will stop Putin, if president Trump will bring peace to our country, I think he will be on this wall and thank We've had very, very good, talks. Mister president, do you agree? Mister president, president Zelensky just said that there'd be no compromises with, Vladimir Putin.
I just wanted to ask both of you. Firstly, are there compromises that you think that president Zelensky is gonna have to make? President Zelensky, is there anything that you might be thinking that you may be able to offer a ring to the table, for example, elections? Thank Thank you. I think you're gonna have to always make compromises.
You can't do any deals without compromises. So, certainly, he's gonna have to make some compromises, but, hopefully, they won't be as big as some people think you're gonna have to make. That's all. That's all we can do. I'm here as a as an arbitrator, as a mediator to a certain extent between two parties that have, been very hostile.
To put it mildly, they've been very hostile. This has been a vicious war. This has been a vicious war. You know, it's a very level battlefield, and, those bullets go out. And as I've said many times, we're talking about it with Pete, many times, the only thing stopping those bullets is a human body.
And in the case we're talking about, generally, young human bodies are stopping a lot of bullets. It's dead level. That's what why it's great farmland. It's great land. It's great farmland, but there's very little protection against the bullets that are being and other things that are being shot.
So, all I can do is, see if I can get everybody at the table and get an agreement. And I think we're gonna end up with an agreement. Otherwise, I wouldn't probably be even here today. Mister president, I've got two questions for you. You think ultimately your legacy will be the peacemaker and not the president that led this country into another war and ended foreign wars?
And I've got a a question. I hope it will. I mean, I hope I'm gonna be, remembered as a peacemaker. This is this would be a great thing if we could do this. I'm doing this to save lives more than anything else.
Second is to save a lot of money, but I consider that to be far less important. So I hope I'm gonna thank you, Brian, for that question. It was a nice question. I hope I'll be known and recognized as a peacemaker. This this would be a great thing to solve.
This is a very dangerous situation. You know, this could lead to a third world war. This is this was headed in the wrong direction. If this election were lost, if we didn't win this election and by the way, we won it by a lot. That was a mandate.
We won every swing state. We won the popular vote by millions and millions of votes. We won everything. The districts. You you look at the areas of of red.
Take a look at a map. This was a big mandate, and, this was one of the things. I said we're gonna get this thing settled. If we didn't win, I think this would've this could've very well ended up in a third World War, and that would not that would not have been a good situation. What was your second question?
My second question for president Zelensky No. Do you ever why don't you wear a suit? You're the highest why don't you wear a suit? You're the highest level in this country's office, and you refuse to wear a suit. Just wanna see if you do you own a suit?
Yeah. Yeah. Problems. I I a lot of Americans have problems with you not respecting the interview in his office. I will wear a costume after this war will finish.
Okay. Yes. Maybe one Maybe something Maybe something like yours. Yes. That'd be great.
Maybe some something better. I don't I don't know. We will see. Maybe something cheaper than yeah. Thank you.
Thank you. President Trump. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, president Trump.
You said yesterday that you have Are you going to send more arms to Ukraine in peace? There's no peace. Yeah. We're gonna have arms to Ukraine. Yeah.
Sure. Hopefully, I won't have to send very much because, hopefully, we're gonna have it finished. We're looking forward to finishing this quickly. We're not looking forward to sending a lot of arms. We're looking forward to getting the war finished so we can, do other things.
But, we very much appreciate the agreement because we needed what they had, and we're treating you know, our country is now treated fairly. Biden didn't do that. Biden didn't he didn't know what the hell he was doing. This should've never happened. This should've never started.
But, you know, sure, the answer is yes. But, hopefully, we won't have to send much because I'm looking forward to get it done getting it done quickly, very quickly. Does that mean you provide security guarantees, mister president? I don't wanna talk about security yet because I wanna get the deal done. You know, you fall into the same trap like everybody else a billion times you said over and over.
I wanna get the deal done. Security is so easy. That's about 2% of the problem. I'm not worried about security. I'm worried about getting the deal done.
The security is the easy part. Security is very nice. Everybody stops shooting. And now when Europe put people there, I know France is going to. I know The UK is going to.
I know other countries are going to, and they happen to be right next door. We haven't committed, but we could conceivably you know, we have security in a different form. We'll have workers there, digging digging digging, taking the raw earth so that we can create a lot of great product in this country. So in that sense, you have something. But we haven't determined that yet.
I will say, in speaking to France and in speaking to and they were here, as you know, last week and just the other day. They have committed to a lot of security. I don't think you're gonna need much security. I think once this deal gets done, it's over. Russia's not gonna wanna go back, and, nobody's gonna wanna go back.
Resist When this when this deal ends, I really believe this deal is is gonna be over. The whale? Question. Yeah. Please go ahead.
Go ahead. Thank you so much. Mister president, thank you. You had you had you had you had you had you had you had you had you had you had you had you had you had you had you had you had you had you had you had you had you had you said Macron and Keir Starmer at the White House this past week, both of whom praised your courage and conviction to lead the pathway towards peace. Yes.
Part of that involved, though, reengaging Russia in diplomatic relations, something that previous leaders lacked the conviction to do so. What gave you the moral courage and conviction to step forward and lead that? Well, I love this guy. Who are you with? What American News, sir.
Well, that's that's why I like him. What American News does a great job. That's very I like the question. I think it's a very good question. It is it's a pathway to peace.
It's a pathway to getting something solved. And I feel that as the head of this country, I have an obligation to do that. Plus, you know, we're very much involved. We got involved. It's too bad we got involved because there should have been no involved because there should have been no war, and there shouldn't have been October 7.
That would have never happened. As you know, Iran was broke. They had no money to give to Hezbollah. They had no money to give to Hamas. They were stone cold broke.
And then under Biden, they became rich as hell. It went from no money to $300,000,000 in a period of four years, and they gave a lot of that money away. And you see what happened, and that's a real mess also that we hope to be able to solve. But, no. I I appreciate your question very much.
I just I feel I have an obligation to try and, do something to stop the death. If I can if I can answer. Yes. If I can answer. Sorry.
Please. Please. And I do like your clothing, but Yeah. Really? Even I have to I think he's a great guy, by the way.
But I'm I don't know if you two like each other. But you know what? I think he's I think he's I like this guy. I don't I think he's dressed. So I I have more I have more serious things than answer on such questions.
That's okay. I will answer on more serious questions if I can. That's good. Yeah. So, please, about security guarantees and about the ceasefire.
We can't just speak about ceasefire and speak and speak. It will not work. Justice fire will not never work because I'm like the president. I have I have this experience and not only me. Ukraine before before my presidency from the 2014, Putin broken 25 times.
25 times, he broken his own signature. 25 times, he broken ceasefire. But he he never broke to me. He never broke No. No.
You were the president. Wait. He broke You were the president during He never broke to me. In 2016, you you've been the president, miss mister President. You've been the president, but he he had, of course, not with you, but he had during those period, he had conversations with our side, and we had Normandy for format, you know, the France, Germany, Ukraine, and Russia, and he broken 25 times.
That's why we will never accept just ceasefire. It will not work without security guarantees. Security guarantees, maybe president is right about, this document and other, but this document is not enough. Strong army is enough because his soldiers afraid Putin soldiers afraid of our soldiers when we're strong enough. If we are not strong enough, if we are empty, if our storage is empty, we can't defend our our land.
Today, you know, he knows that we have all the world know that we have meeting. Yes? Why he's using ballistic? Putin today using ballistic on our hospital schools and etcetera. Ballistic.
So he knows that we are here and that president Trump is really have goodwill to stop to stop this war. And, and you you hear now the president. So why he's using? So he doesn't want to stop. He doesn't want but I hope that we will do it.
Really, we'll do it. Security when we speak about security guarantees, when the Europeans are ready for contingents, they need USA backstop. If there will not be United States, we will not never have any contingents, strong contingents from the Europeans because they don't want to divide airlines, connection between The United States at the main and strongest ally and Europeans. This is crucial. This is important.
That's what we want to speak about very much. This is very important. And they are defense. So air defense, really, we have big deficit with all these systems, and we need to provide this. We we need it very much.
Otherwise, Putin will never stop and will go further and further. He doesn't want he he hate us. You know? It's not about me. He hate Ukrainians.
He thinks that we are not a nation. He thinks and he shared the source. I think maybe with your team also. I don't know. But with all the Europeans in media, official and not, he always said that we there is no such country, such nation, such language, and such life like Ukrainian.
No. He really doesn't respect all the Ukrainians, and he wants destroy us. The we we and you are right, miss Bradley. That's 2%. This document, maybe other documents.
It's a very good start, very good, but it will not enough to stop this person. Should Russia pay to rebuild Ukraine? Mister president, under peace, sir, peace. Should Russia detain to Brazil Ukraine? They have Please take this question.
This is the rule this This is the rule of the war. This is the rule of the war. During all the centuries, all the history, this is the rule of the war who began those pay? Do you agree This is a rule. Putin began this war.
He has to pay all money for innovation. He has to pay. Of course, some Russian assets, what we have, in Europe, about 300 billions, we can use them. We can use for innovation and buy military support from The United States also. We can do it, but it's not enough.
It's not enough. Because the president that you didn't mention the trilateral summit. Because I wouldn't end No. For Angela. Wait.
One second. I want I asked this question that you didn't like because I wanted to know if you wanna position yourself in the middle between Russia and Ukraine or on the Ukraine side. I'm in the middle. I wanna solve this thing. I'm for I'm for both.
I wanna get it solved. And, it's wonderful to speak badly about somebody else, but, I wanna get it solved. If we can solve it, great. If we can't solve it, they're gonna have to find it out, and who knows what's gonna happen. But I wanna see it get solved.
May I follow-up, with one more question about US troops in Europe. After Russian invasion of Ukraine, your predecessors have sent additional troops to Eastern Europe, including Poland, my country. Yeah. Are you committed to keeping these troops on the eastern flank of NATO, in the future? I'm very committed to Poland.
I think Poland has really stepped up and done a great job for NATO. They as you know, they paid more than they had to. They are one of the finest groups of people I've ever known. I'm very committed to Poland. What about Baltics?
Poland's in a tough neighborhood. You know? What about Baltics? The Baltics? The Baltics.
They got a lot of it it's a tough neighborhood too, but we're committed. We're gonna be very committed, and we're committed to NATO. But NATO has to step up, and the Europeans have to step up more than they have. And I wanna see them equalize because they are in for far less than we're in, and they should be at least equal. You understand that?
Why is The United States we have an ocean in between. Why is The United States in for so much more money and other things as Europe? With that being said, and as you said, they've also been obviously very helpful. But we have put in far more than they have, and I think they should equalize. Mister president, I'm going to Mister president, please go ahead.
About the agreement again today. What changed between the first time that secretary Besson gave, president Zelensky the agreement and today for the signing? We made a deal. So What was that? I'm just the signing factor.
I'm I'm a business person. We made a deal. That's what changed. Mister president, I didn't think we were gonna make a deal. And, we ended up making the deal, so that changed.
Mister president, what and how do you envision a trilateral summit with president Zelensky and Putin and his supporters? Well, they don't like each other. I can tell you that. Okay. They do not like each other.
This is not a love match, and it's unfortunate. That's why you're in this situation. The United States should not have allowed this to happen. Okay? The United States, run by a man that didn't know much, I was gonna be very nice.
Run by an incompetent person, very incompetent person, should never have allowed this to happen. I've stopped wars. I've stopped many wars. My people will tell you, I stopped wars that nobody ever heard about. I stopped wars before they ever started.
You can look at some of, some of I could give you a lot of nations that would tell you right now they were probably going to war. I could tell you, right now, there's a nation thinking about going to war on something that nobody in this room has ever even heard about. Two smaller nations, but big, still big. And I About? I think I've stopped it.
But, this should have never happened. Mister president About, about sorry. Just a second. About the any negotiations. The first of all, I want I want really to tell you, and I think that everybody understand that Ukraine more than Ukrainians, nobody want to stop this war.
But at the future, any negotiations, it's understandable that two, sides of the war, not Russia and The United States, because this is not the war between Russia and The United States. This is war of Russia against Ukraine and Ukrainian people. So these two sides will be at the any anyway, will be at the negotiation and negotiation table. Then, of course, United States, like their strongest partner of the Ukraine, and, of course, Europe. I think Europe is very important.
I want to speak about it with the president. Yes. Europe is very important for us because we really defend Europe for today. All Europeans really recognize that that we are defending the line, and they have real life, and our people are dying. That's why they helped us.
And, also, it's about the need. Yes. Between like the president said, you have big, nice ocean. Yes. Between us.
But if we will not stay, Russia will go further to Baltics and to Poland, by the way. But first to the Baltics, it's understandable for them because they've been they've been in the USSR. You know, they're they've been one of the republics of the USSR, and Putin wants to bring them back to his empire. It's a fact. And when he will go there, if we will not stay, you will fight Your American soldiers, it doesn't matter.
Do you have ocean or not? Your soldiers will fight. Mister President, would you be willing to visit Ukraine, Libya for Odessa, which is going to be a 30 year old black sea? It was my question. I'm sorry.
I don't wanna talk about Odessa now. Let's not talk about Odessa. I wanna talk about making a deal, getting peace. We don't have to talk about Odessa, but a lot of cities have been destroyed. A lot of cities that are not recognizable.
There's not a building standing. No. No. And a lot of a lot of You have to come and to look. No.
No. No. We have very good cities. Yes. A lot of things have been destroyed, but mostly cities alive.
And people work, and children go to school. Sometimes it's very difficult. Sometimes closer to frontline. Children have to go to underground schools or online, but we live. Ukraine is fighting, and Ukraine lives.
This is very important. And maybe it's putting is sharing this information that he destroyed us. No. He lost 700,000 people. 700,000 soldiers.
He lost everything. Yes. So Mister president Mister president last week. More. I don't know.
A general deal. Please. Go ahead. President, when did you last speak with president Putin, and what did he say that Couple of days ago. And when did what did he tell you that gave you the assurance that he wanted peace?
Well, that's what I do. My whole life is deals. I know pretty good. And I really I've, I've known him for a long time. I've dealt with him for a long time.
He had to suffer through the, Russia hoax. You know, Russia, Russia, Russia was a hoax. That was all Biden. It was nothing to do with him. So he had to suffer through that, and he he was able to do that.
I think that, he wants to make a deal, and he'd like to see it end. It's all I do. That's what I do my whole life. That's what I do is make deals. Would you like to take I'm in the middle of a mess because this is a real mess.
It's a very dangerous one. If this doesn't get solved now, it's not gonna get solved for a long time. So I hope we're gonna I hope we're gonna get it solved. In the back, please. Thank you, mister president.
Prime minister Farmer claimed repeatedly that his government believes in free speech and was not engaged in censorship. But his country's government arrests people for memes and fraud crimes, and even more worrisome is pressuring, American companies to to to center Americans on its behalf. How can he be a reliable, trustworthy partner when he says things that are demonstrably false on such and important matters? Well, we actually spoke to him about that yesterday, and we thought they took it very, very much too far. JD was, very strong on it.
So was I. So was Marco. And we've been speaking to him about it. Marco, would you like to say something about it? Yeah.
We we we have concerns, obviously, with the conduct of various particularly as it impacts Americans. And there's real concern that American speech, which is online, could fall into the hands of British or any country's jurisdiction. And so this is a point the vice president made of Munich, and and I think it's a very compelling one that unites us with Europe as much as anything else as the shared values, and one of them being free speech. And so if Americans are threatened by it, we're we're going to need to take action in that regard. Yeah.
Look. We It's actually a very important question. We we spoke about this in detail with the prime minister, the foreign secretary, and others at at lunch yesterday. And I know that secretary of commerce, Lutnick, followed up in private meetings last night. This is really important.
We believe Americans have the right to speak their mind. Even if we in this room disagree with them, they have the right to speak their mind in the public square, which is often online these days. And we're to defend that right as it pertains to American companies and American citizens vigorously if we have to. I do think that under the president's leadership, we're gonna find common ground with our friends in The UK on this question, but it remains to be seen the principle that will guide us is we believe in free speech in this country, and we'll fight forward for American citizens. Mister president, on the deal, is there any other oil and gas component to the deal?
Is it all critical? A little bit. We'll see. On LNG? But we're not really looking for that so much.
We got a lot. We have more than anybody in the world by far. So, no, we're not talking about it too much, but a little bit. I think it it it affects also. But, for the most part, no.
And, sir, is there any, agreement from, Ukraine to purchase, US LNG as part of the deal or is that on the table roll? No. We we don't need that. So what does the president have to do? Ask you about it.
You just mentioned that you guys spoken to Vladimir Putin a couple of days ago. Just to be clear, that's a new call, not the the one who I've spoken to him on numerous occasions. Okay. And how was the latest call? What did you discuss?
How how did it go? Are you serious with that question? I am. I'd love to know that. It went well.
I think I think we're going to have a deal. On the minerals deal, mister president, some of those minerals are in the East Of Ukraine, not far from the front lines and in areas that Russia has occupied. Will you direct president Putin to to withdraw his forces from those areas if you're there's US interest Well, we'll take a look at at the time. We have a lot of area. It's a very big area we're talking about.
So we'll take a look. I'll study that, and I'll see. And who would protect those minerals if if they are US interest? Would that be Ukraine They'll be protect the agreement will protect them. US interest?
Yeah. We're signing an agreement. Right. But what if Russia tries to invade or or there's Russian response? I just told you, I don't think that's gonna happen.
And if that were gonna happen, I wouldn't make a deal. If I thought that was gonna happen, I wouldn't make a deal. So people may wonder why Yeah. They ought to focus on CNN on survival, not asking me these ridiculous questions. Focus on surviving because CNN's got such low ratings.
I don't think they're gonna survive. Let's go. Please. More since already I already mentioned Poland, that Poland was under Russian control for decades after the second World War. When I was a kid, I looked at The United States not only as a most powerful country Right.
Richest country in the world, The country that has great music, great movies, great muscle cars, but also as a force for good. Do you and now I'm talking with my friends in Poland, and they are they are worried that you align yourself too much with Putin. What's your message for them? Well, if I didn't align myself with both of them, you'd never have a deal. You want me to say, really terrible things about Putin and then say, hi, Vladimir.
How are we doing on the deal? That doesn't work that way. I'm not aligned with Putin. I'm not aligned with anybody. I'm aligned with The United States Of America and for the good of the world.
I'm aligned with the world, and I wanna get this thing over with. You see the hatred he's got for Putin? It's very tough for me to make a deal with that kind of hate. He's got tremendous hatred, and I understand that. But I can tell you the other side isn't exactly in love with, you know, him either.
So it's not a question of alignment. I have to I'm aligned with the world. I wanna get the things set. I'm aligned with Europe. I wanna see if we can get this thing done.
You want me to be tough? I could be tougher than any human being you've ever seen. I'd be so tough, but you're never gonna get a deal that way. So that's the way it goes. Alright.
One more question. Yeah. Well, man, hey. I I will respond to this. So look.
For four years in The United States Of America, we had a president who stood up at press conferences and talked tough about Vladimir Putin, and then Putin invaded Ukraine and destroyed a significant chunk of the country. The path to peace and the path to prosperity is maybe engaging in diplomacy. We tried the pathway of Joe Biden of thumping our chest and pretending that the president of The United States' words mattered more than the president of The United States' actions. What makes America a good country is America engaging in diplomacy. That's what president Trump is doing.
Can I ask you? Sure. Yeah? Yeah. Okay.
So he occupied it, our parts big parts of Ukraine, parts of East and Crimea. So he occupied it on 2014. So during a lot of years I'm not speaking about just Biden, but those time was Obama, then president Obama, then president Trump, then president Biden, now president Trump, and god bless. Now president Trump will stop him. But during 2014, nobody stopped him.
He just occupied and took. He killed people. You know what the contact was? 2015. 20 14.
20 14 is 2014. Yeah. Yeah. So I was he came is not here. Yeah.
But That's exactly right. Yes. But, during 2014 till 2022, you know, the well, the situation the same that people are been dying on the contact line. Nobody stopped him. You know, that we had conversations with him, a lot of conversation, my bilateral conversation, and we signed with him, me, like a new president.
In 2019, I signed with him the deal. I signed with him Macron and Merkel. We signed ceasefire. Ceasefire. All of them told me that he will never go.
We signed him with gas contract gas contract. Yes. But after that, he broken the ceasefire. He killed our people, and he didn't exchange prisoners. We signed the exchange of prisoners, but he didn't do it.
What kind of diplomacy, JD, you are speaking about? What what do you what do you what do you mean? I'm talking about the kind of diplomacy that's gonna end the destruction of your country. Yes. But if you Mister president, mister president, with respect, I think it's disrespectful for you to come into the Oval Office and try to litigate this in front of the American media.
Right now, you guys are going around and forcing conscripts to the front lines because you have manpower problems. You should be thanking the president for trying to bring it into this conflict. Have been to Ukraine that you say what problems we have? I have been to You've come once. I have actually I've actually watched and seen the stories, and I know what happens is you bring people you bring them on a propaganda tour, mister president.
Are do you disagree that you've had problems What? Bringing people into your military? We have problems. And do you think that it's respectful to come to the Oval Office of The United States Of America and attack the administration that is trying to trying to prevent the destruction of your country? A lot of a lot of questions.
Let's start from the beginning. Sure. First of all, during the war, everybody has problems. Even you, but you have nice ocean and don't feel now. But you will feel it in the future.
God bless. You don't know that. God bless. God bless. You will not have a war.
Don't tell us what we're gonna feel. We're trying to solve a problem. Don't tell us what we're gonna feel. I'm not telling you Because you're in no position to dictate that. That's exactly what we're gonna feel.
You We're gonna feel very good. Feel influence. We're gonna feel very good and very strong. Will feel influence. You're right now not in a very good position.
You've allowed yourself to be in a very bad position. That is important. To be right about. From the very beginning of the war You're not in a good position. You don't have the cards right now.
With us, you start having cards. Cards. Right now, you don't get any plates on my friend. You're playing serious. You're gambling with the lives of millions of people.
You think You're gambling with World War three. You're gambling with World War three. And what you're doing is very disrespectful to the country, this country that's back to you far more than a lot of people said they should have. Have you said thank you once that entire meeting? No.
In this entire meeting, have you said thank you? You went to Pennsylvania and campaigned for the opposition in October, offer some words of appreciation for The United States Of America and the president who's trying to save your country. Please. You're saying that if you will speak very loudly about the war you can He's not speaking loudly. He's not speaking loudly.
Your country is in big trouble. Can I help? Wait a minute. No. No.
You've done a lot of talking. Your country is in big trouble. I know. You're not winning. I know.
You're not winning this. I You have a damn good chance of coming out okay because of us. President. We are staying in our country, staying strong. From the very beginning of the war, we've been alone, and we are thankful.
I said thanks in this cabinet. You have been alone in this cabinet. We gave you through this stupid president three hundred and fifty billion dollars. You woke up for your breath. Military equipment.
You woke up for your breath. But they had to use our military One of our best If you didn't have our military equipment You invited If you didn't have our military equipment, this war would have been over in two weeks. In three days. I heard it from Putin. In three days.
This is something Maybe less. In two weeks. Of course, yes. It's gonna be a very hard thing to do business like this. I can tell you.
Say thank you. I said it a lot of times. Except that there are Except that there are disagreements, and let's go litigate those disagreements rather than trying to fight it out in the American media when you're wrong. We know that you're wrong. But you see, I think it's good for the American people to see what's going on.
I understand. I think it's very important. That's why I kept this going so long. You have to be buried there. You you have people are dying.
They tell you they're running low on soldiers. Listen. Don't play You're running low on soldiers. It would be a damn good thing. Then you tell us, I don't wanna cease fire.
I don't wanna cease fire. I wanna go, and I wanted this. I look. If you could get a ceasefire right now, I'd tell you you'd take it so the bullets stop flying and your men stop calling you out. Of course.
We want to stop the war. But I'm saying you don't want a ceasefire. To you I want a cease fire. Guarantees. Because you'll get a cease fire faster than any greater Ask our people about a cease fire, what they think.
That wasn't me. For you what That wasn't with me. That was with a a guy named Biden who was not a smart person. But this is your it is your That was with Obama. It was your president.
Excuse me. That was with Obama who gave you sheets, and I gave you javelins. Yes. I gave you the javelins to take out all those tanks. Obama gave you sheets.
In fact, the statement is Obama gave sheets and Trump gave javelins. You gotta be more thankful because let me tell you, you don't have the cards. With us, you have the cards. But without us, you don't have any cards. One more question to Martin.
He's the vice president. I'm sorry. He It'll be a tough deal to make, because the attitudes have to change. What are you saying? She she's asking what if Russia breaks the ceasefire?
What if they what if anything? What if a bomb drops on your head right now? Okay? What if they broke it? I don't know.
They broke it with Biden because Biden, they didn't respect him. They didn't respect Obama. They respect me. Let me tell you. Putin went through a hell of a lot with me.
He went through a phony witch hunt where they used him and Russia. Russia, Russia, Russia. You ever hear of that deal? That was a phony that was a phony Hunter Biden, Joe Biden scam. Hillary Clinton, shifty Adam Schiff.
It was a Democrat scam, and he had to go through that. And he did go through it. We didn't end up in a war. And he went through it. He was accused of all that stuff.
He had nothing to do with it. It came out of Hunter Biden's bathroom. It came out of Hunter Biden's bedroom. It was disgusting. And then they said, oh, oh, the laptop from hell was made by Russia, the 51 agents.
The whole thing was a scam, and he had to put up with that. He was being accused of all that stuff. All I can say is this. He might have broken deals with Obama and Bush, and he might have broken them with Biden. He did, maybe.
Maybe he didn't. I don't know what happened, but he didn't break it with me. He wants to make a deal. I don't know if he can make a deal. The problem is I've empowered you to be a tough guy, and I don't think you'd be a tough guy without The United States.
And your people are very brave, but you're either gonna make a deal or we're out. And if we're out, you'll fight it out. I don't think it's gonna be pretty, but you'll fight it out. But you don't have the cards. But once we sign that deal, you're in a much better position.
But you're not acting at all thankful, and that's not a nice thing. I'll be honest. That's not a nice thing. Alright. I think we've seen enough.
What do you think? What's the good news to you? This is this is gonna be great television. I will say that.