Asger Risom
U.S. president claims decisive role in ending the war, distances himself from Zelensky personally
President Donald Trump has said he believes he is “saving” Ukraine and doing the country “a big favor,” positioning himself as a central figure in efforts to end the ongoing war. The remarks were made in an interview with The Atlantic, as reported by Sky News and HotNews.ro.
“A Massive War Machine”
“I believe I’m saving this nation,” Trump said, referring to Ukraine. “I think this nation will be crushed very soon. It’s a massive war machine. Let’s face it.” He added that the Prime Minister of Norway told him the conflict would have never ended without Trump’s involvement.
Trump emphasized that his intervention represents a major service to Ukraine, even as he drew a line between supporting the country and supporting its president. “Not necessarily on Zelensky’s side, but on Ukraine’s side—yes,” he said. “I had a difficult time with Zelensky.”
Oval Office Dispute Resurfaces
The former businessman reflected on his public confrontation with Zelensky in the Oval Office, where both leaders—along with Vice President JD Vance—engaged in a tense exchange. “All he had to do was stay quiet,” Trump recalled. “He made his point known.”
Describing a key moment in their conversation, Trump said, “When I made the statement, I told him, ‘We’re working to solve the problem, we’re trying to help.’ But he responded, ‘No, no, we need security too.’”
While Trump acknowledged Ukraine’s right to self-defense, he argued that the first priority should be resolving the war: “You’ve got to end the war first.”
Critical Week Ahead
Looking forward, Trump signaled that the diplomatic process is nearing a turning point. “We’ll have to see what happens over the next period—about a week. We’re in the final phase,” he said, without providing further details.
The interview underscores Trump’s continued efforts to frame himself as a peacemaker, even as divisions remain over his personal relationship with the Ukrainian president.