The key facts

  • Trump: the EU is 'tired of spending' money on Ukraine, the US 'got nothing in return'
  • Trump urged Zelensky to want to end the war, otherwise 'it will be very bad'
  • Trump discussed with Putin the release of American Stephen Hubbard

Statements in the Oval Office

US President Donald Trump told journalists in the Oval Office on Tuesday, October 20, that the European Union is 'tired of spending' money on Ukraine. 'The European Union has quite a lot of money, although I must say they are tired of spending it,' he said. According to Trump, the US and Europe have spent huge sums on Ukraine, while the States 'got nothing in return except high diesel prices'.

Appeal to Zelensky

Trump emphasized that Ukraine and Zelensky must themselves want to end the war. 'If he doesn't want to, I think it will be very bad,' the American leader said. Asked whether the peace process had returned to the right track after the talks in Oslo, Trump replied that, in his opinion, Russia wants to end the war. He called Russia a 'big machine' that 'just keeps moving forward' and has 'an unlimited supply of people'.

On a personal meeting between Putin and Zelensky

Trump said that the 'hatred' between Presidents Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky is 'huge', and, in his view, this is precisely the main reason why the parties fail to make a deal. Asked whether Zelensky and Putin need to be in the same room to sign a peace agreement, Trump replied: 'They don't have to be in the same room. I think I can do it differently. It's hard for them to be in the same room. I don't care how it gets done.' Earlier, Trump spoke of his readiness to meet with Russia and China to resolve the war that began in 2022.

The fate of Stephen Hubbard

Answering a question about a possible deal to free retired American teacher Stephen Hubbard, Trump said: 'I don't want to talk about it,' but asked the journalist to 'remember that question for a couple of days.' He said he had discussed Hubbard's fate with Putin 'in detail' and asked him to release the American. 'I'd like to get him back. It's time. It's time to bring Mr. Hubbard back,' Trump added. In October 2024, a Russian court sentenced Hubbard to almost seven years in prison for working as a mercenary in Ukraine.