President Donald Trump told reporters on Sunday that he had three requirements for Russian President Vladimir Putin, all of which he expected to be met in order to stop the bloodshed and end the war between Russia and Ukraine.
Trump spoke to the press at the airport in Morristown, New Jersey, as he prepared to board Air Force One and return to the White House after a long weekend trip that included his attendance at the funeral for the late Pope Francis as well as a one-on-one meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Reporters began with questions about the meeting with Zelensky at the Vatican — which, after their highly-publicized Oval Office blowout, was much less dramatic — and Trump said that the pair had had a “good meeting.”
“We had a good meeting, it was a nice meeting — it was a beautiful meeting, I tell you , it was the nicest office I’ve ever seen,” Trump said. “It was a beautiful scene. He was very — he wants to do something good for his country. He thinks he’s doing a good job, he’s working hard, we’ll see what happens.”
Trump went on to say that Zelensky had told him that “he needs more weapons, but he’s been saying that for three years. He needs more weapons and we’re going to see what happens with respect to Russia because, Russia, I’ve been surprised and disappointed that they did the bombing of those places after discussions.”
WATCH:
.@POTUS on his meeting with President Zelenskyy: We had a good meeting… he wants to do something good for his country… I want to see what happens with respect to Russia because I've been surprised and disappointed that they did the bombing of those places after discussions. pic.twitter.com/OmkDiv0TIR
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) April 27, 2025
The follow-up question moved on to Trump’s plans with regard to Russia, and a reporter asked him, “What do you want Vladimir Putin to do?”
“Well, I want him to stop shooting, sit down and sign a deal. We have the confines of a deal, I believe,” Trump replied. “And I want him to sign it and be done with it, and just go back to life.”
WATCH:
REPORTER: What do you want Vladimir Putin to do?@POTUS: "I want him to stop shooting, sit down and sign a deal. We have the confines of a deal, I believe." pic.twitter.com/GAhIY6tBx2
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) April 27, 2025
