U.S. President Donald Trump reversed course on Friday and said Russia did in fact invade Ukraine, and that Kyiv would soon sign a minerals agreement with the United States as part of efforts to end the Ukraine war.
Trump had said on Tuesday that Ukraine "should have never started" the war three years ago, prompting a wave of criticism both domestically and internationally. Pressed on the subject in an interview with Fox News Radio on Friday, he acknowledged Russia had invaded Ukraine on the order of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
"Russia attacked, but they shouldn't have let him attack," Trump said, adding that Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and then-U.S. President Joe Biden should have taken steps to avert the invasion.
Later, Trump predicted a minerals agreement would be reached soon.
"We're signing an agreement, hopefully in the next fairly short period of time," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office when asked about a possible deal for Ukraine's minerals.
Zelenskyy said separately on Friday that Ukrainian and U.S. teams were working on a draft agreement. "I am hoping for ... a fair result," he said in a video address after sharp exchanges this week between the two leaders.
Trump denounced Zelenskyy as a "dictator" on Wednesday and warned he had to move quickly to secure peace with Russia, which invaded Ukraine nearly three years ago, or risk losing his country.
The change in tone from the United States, Ukraine's most important backer, has alarmed European officials and stoked fears that Kyiv could be forced into a peace deal that favors Putin.
Zelenskyy had said Trump was trapped in a "disinformation bubble", but later toned down his statements and said he was hoping for American pragmatism.
Zelenskyy on Wednesday rejected U.S. demands for $500 billion in mineral wealth from Ukraine to repay Washington for wartime aid, saying the United States had supplied nowhere near that sum so far and offered no specific security guarantees in the agreement.
Ukraine has valuable deposits of strategic minerals that the U.S. wants. These include uranium, lithium, cobalt, rare earths and more and are used in applications such as batteries, technology and aerospace.
Speaking at a White House event earlier on Friday, Trump was critical of Zelenskyy while refraining from negative comments about Putin.
"I've had very good talks with Putin, and I've had not such good talks with Ukraine," Trump said. "They don't have any cards, but they're playing tough."
Separately, the United States on Friday proposed a United Nations resolution to mark the third anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The three-paragraph U.S. draft, seen by Reuters, mourns loss of life during the "Russia-Ukraine conflict" and "implores a swift end to the conflict."
Kyiv and its European allies want their own text to be adopted by the UN General Assembly on Monday calling for de-escalation, an early cessation of hostilities and peaceful resolution to the conflict.
The German government said on Friday that Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Zelenskyy agreed in a phone call that Ukraine must have a seat at the table in peace talks.
Polish President Andrzej Duda, meanwhile, urged Zelenskyy to keep up calm and constructive cooperation with Trump.
Duda, whose term in office expires this year, was one of Trump's preferred international partners during his 2017-2021 presidency and they have described themselves as friends.
Poland's president is due to meet Trump in Washington on Saturday, Poland's state news agency PAP reported.
© Thomson Reuters 2025.
51 Comments
Jimizo
Did someone get the paper and crayons out and explain it to him?
Progress of a kind I suppose.
Still absolutely ridiculous.
GuruMick
Jimizo....no crayons allowed...Trump either eats them or sticks them in his ear.
Jimizo
Lol. That’s better than mine - I thought he’d feel they were too nutritious to eat.
iraira
The closer Ukraine comes to the $500 billion in minerals requested, the more the US (Trump) will be able to support Ukraine. Nice mob-style shakedown tactic.
Underworld
And what steps would those be?
A rare moment of Trump admitting he was wrong, sort of.
It had better have security guarantees, or Zelensky isn't signing it.
itsonlyrocknroll
This whole shocking public insanity, is totally incomprehensible.
There is a war in Europe, the death toll is appalling, horrific loss of life, unspeakable atrocities to Ukraine civilian population.
"Russia attacked, but they shouldn't have let him attack".....
"I've had very good talks with Putin, and I've had not such good talks with Ukraine," Trump said. "They don't have any cards, but they're playing tough."
Its so unhinged, seriously, a deranged episode of the "outer limits" meets reality TV.
Underworld
itsonlyrocknroll
Does he think that Russia has any cards?
stormcrow
Duh…At first I thought Russia invaded Ukraine…duh…then I thought Ukraine invaded Ukraine…duhhhh…and now I’m beginning to think that it was probably Russia that invaded Ukraine first, not Ukraine. Duhhhhhh
I'veSeenFootage
But... but... all the commenters telling us Ukraine and the USA and Biden started the war and Russia is a victime in broken English... Are they all... lying?!?
theFu
But last fall, didn't Trump say he'd end the war within 24 hours of taking office?
Yep: https://apnews.com/article/trump-russia-ukraine-war-un-election-a78ecb843af452b8dda1d52d137ca893
So he let more people die because he thought firing Federal workers was more important. What a loser.
And the war still isn't over in Ukraine.
I have no problem with minerals being used to pay back all the money given. Since Europe gave more aid, perhaps they should get in on the minerals too? Ukraine does mine uranium which the US can definitely use.
itsonlyrocknroll
Where is Europe? It is a perfectly pertinent question to shout out loud.
Get involved, stick your oar in, there is still time.
Arrange a summit of all EU/UK leaders right in Kyiv today.
Be bold, let the dictators despot know you mean business.
Blacklabel
yep and now that Zelensky has lost his silly public “battle of words” with Trump?
he will be signing the minerals deal he told Rubio and Vance he would in their private meeting.
Amber
Bwahaha!! Mental illness is a terrible thing.
OkinawaRider
The closer Ukraine comes to the $500 billion in minerals requested, the more the US (Trump) will be able to support Ukraine. Nice mob-style shakedown tactic
I think that is precisely what Trump is doing. Either way he,ll get what he wants, unfortunately Zelensky has no choice but to sign up to Trump mineral deal.
I'veSeenFootage
Oh yeah he lost so much he had to make a public reversal and say the opposite of what he said two days ago!
No wait, that's Trump.
nandakandamanda
Phew! A moment of sanity prevails at last!
Jimizo
I remember the ‘4D chess’ comments after Trump had an episode of mental diarrhea in the past.
Does he still play that game?
Blacklabel
who Is now signing the minerals deal after that?
Blacklabel
Zelensky fell for the 2 days of ego fluffing, that’s all he wanted was to be personally praised.
easy win for USA.
Underworld
Blacklabel
Whatever makes you feel better about Trump reversing himself.
Zelenskyy was always going to sign the deal, but it had to have security guarantees as part of the deal.
Blacklabel
Your boy got fluffed:
“Kellogg played 'a big part' in getting the deal over the line through his flattery in the press of the Ukrainian president and spending three days with him in Kyiv, according to people close to the Ukrainian government. “
browny1
And I thought Trump had reached the pinnacle of his inane utterings - then this week!
Classic Orwellian double-speak.
From Animal Farm -
"Four Legs Good, Two Legs Bad" morphs into "Four Legs Good, Two Legs Better".
"Ukraine invades Russia" morphs into "Russia invades Ukraine, but..."
Paul Simon encapsulates the moment -
Slip Sliding Away. You know, the nearer your destination, The more you're Slip Sliding Away.
Underworld
Blacklabel
Yeah, I'm sure that's how they saw it.
But if the deal has security guarantees, which it didn't before, then it's a win for Zelenskyy...
owzer
I imagine that in his mind, Trump believes that Ukraine didn't do all they could have done to prevent the war, and that equates to Ukraine having started the war (because they didn't avoid it). It was a weird take to begin with but nice to see him coming to his senses on this issue.
wallace
Ukraine's NATO membership was started by President Bush in 2008.
"Apr 1, 2008 — George Bush this morning said he "strongly supported" Ukraine's attempt to join NATO, and warned he would not allow Russia to veto its membership bid."
wallace
The US needs to give Ukraine the other $350 billion for the $500 billion minerals. So far, the US has given less than $150 billion.
Blacklabel
Oh so you’ve seen the signed agreement and its contents?
Underworld
Blacklabel
Not really. But it's pretty rare that Trump admits he's wrong.
As I said, Zelenskyy was always going to sign the deal, but it had to have security guarantees.
Hopefully both the US and Ukraine.
TaiwanIsNotChina
I don't think you get credit for repeating the answer to the teacher after failing the quiz.
Underworld
owzer
I wonder what he thinks they should have done.
Apart from having the best dealmaker in the history of the galaxy, Trump, make a deal for them.
wallace
Blacklabel
The US needs to give Ukraine the other $350 billion
There is no signed agreement. Trump stated he wants $500 billion of minerals for the $150 billion given.
TaiwanIsNotChina
Except he's not even offering that. It's more like, "We'll get back to you on the whole security thing."
TaiwanIsNotChina
Why is your guy so infantile that he can't take honest criticism? We don't know what the revised deal contains but:
you get nothing if Trump doesn't pony up some real dough for defense of Ukraine.
theFu
Russia needs to leave and start paying reparations to Ukraine too.
For the mods: https://translate.google.com/?sl=auto&tl=en&text=dobre%20vam%20zajebava&op=translate
TaiwanIsNotChina
What a disgusting animal, and that is just the US president.
Blacklabel
that’s correct.
but you said he needs to give Ukraine the “other” 350 billion.
It was kind of phrased as a fact based on an agreement, but seems it was just an opinion.
Blacklabel
oh? So we don’t even get back the 150 billion “loan” we already gave?
that doesn’t sound right.
owzer
Underworld, me too. Hopefully, he can help resolve the conflict, or at least bring it to an end.
Wick's pencil
In reversal, Trump says Russia attacked Ukraine
in exchange for Kyiv signing a minerals agreement.
TaiwanIsNotChina
Is russia going to make payments? I. don't. think. so!!!!
TaiwanIsNotChina
If the deal is signed, Trump is on the hook for a whole lot of expensive weapons. Or did you think this was just a magical payment for nothing scam?
TaiwanIsNotChina
Whenever the apologist says this, we can really read, "I hope Putin can resolve the conflict, or at least bring it to an end."
itsonlyrocknroll
The latest, President Trump......
Trump: Starmer & Macron have 'done nothing' to end war - and Zelenskyy has 'no cards' left to play
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_97MA6DOoeU
bass4funk
That has nothing to do with this coming to an end; this is not sustainable for the US and Ukraine, so Zelenskyy doesn't have a lot of options or the upper hand.
Blacklabel
it’s a repayment for all the money and weapons and other support already given.
That “loan”- with interest. Plus for our current help in ending the war.
lincolnman
Demented Donald is so far gone he can't even remember what he said the day before...
Someone tell Grandpa what day and year it is - it's clear he has no clue...and maybe remind him who his current wife is since he seems to space that one too...
Get this guy in a "home" - quick - even though he deserves to be in a cell...
Underworld
owzer
I wonder what he thinks they should have done.
Oh, I hold no such expectation. Trump lacks the required skills. But we can live in hope.
Underworld
Blacklabel
Yeah right! Don't believe everything you read on the internet...
iknowall
I give Trump a pass on this because Russia didn't invade Ukraine when he was in office.
OssanAmerica
Yes, but that would have required Ukraine to have been a NATO member.
But during Trump's 2017-2021 first term he did not not aggresively push for NATO membership as in a 2018 interview, Trump remarked that allowing Ukraine into NATO could provoke Russia. So yes, Trump let Putin attack Ukraine.
tooheysnew
More flip-flopping from this idiot.
it’s amazing how he backflips on comments he’s made when the world shows him he’s wrong.
how many times is this now ?