Trump claims he pressured Ukraine for a ceasefire

Former President Donald Trump suggested that his past conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was meant to push Ukraine toward important decisions. He mentioned this during remarks at the Kennedy Center on March 17. Trump claimed that he is speaking with Russian President Vladimir Putin to help soldiers he says are trapped by Russian forces. He argued that his influence has prevented Russian actions. However, Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov refuted Trump's claims, stating that Ukrainian troops are not surrounded in Kursk and are still active in their defense operations. Umerov emphasized that Ukraine is focused on maintaining control over strategic areas and has repositioned some troops to strengthen defenses while inflicting losses on Russian forces. He also thanked the US for its ongoing support. When asked about US military aid to Ukraine, Trump dismissed any negative impact, claiming it was appreciated. He stated, “I’m involved for humanity,” addressing the situation in Russia and Ukraine. Trump touched on his February meeting with Zelensky, which he characterized as tense due to disagreements over US aid and a mineral agreement. Following that meeting, he accused Zelensky of being disrespectful. Trump claimed that current aid to Ukraine is a mistake made by President Joe Biden. He repeated his claim that the US has given Ukraine $350 billion, while Europe has provided $100 billion in loans. However, these figures contradict official reports showing that the US aid is closer to $183 billion, and European support has actually surpassed US contributions. Fact-checking has revealed discrepancies in Trump's claims. Reports indicate that European financial support, including military and humanitarian aid, totals around $145 billion, surpassing US aid in both volume and effectiveness.