VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY AND Donald Trump held a meeting and fielded questions from the media at a Nato summit in Turkey today, during which the US president said their relationship is better now than it was when they met in the Oval Office last year.

The two men met in the capital Ankara just after a meeting of Nato leaders, which Trump described as “something very special”. 

“There was a lot of love in that room, a lot of unity,” he said.

Speaking about president Zelenskyy, Trump said they have “a good relationship”.

“Can you believe it? From the Oval Office to now?” he said, referring to a now infamous engagement with Zelenskyy in Washington last year. 

Zelenskyy responded, saying: “But this is not the end.” 

“We are very thankful as always for your support, American support,” he added.

On the prospect of Russia and Ukraine reaching a deal to end the war, Trump declined to say when he thought that might happen, but insisted that there will be an agreement.

He said that Russian president Vladimir Putin was “a difficult character” and that Zelenskyy was also “a difficult character”.

But he also insisted that Putin wants to negotiate an end to the war he started.

Zelenskyy and Trump in Ankara, Turkey Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

“Sometimes you have to let them fight,” Trump said, while comparing Ukraine and Russia to “two kids fighting in a park”.

Trump then pivoted to talking about Ukraine’s “tremendous potential”, referring to its rare earth mineral deposits.

“We have a little stake in that country (Ukraine),” Trump said.

“I look forward to taking advantage of it.”

During the meeting, Trump said the US would give Ukraine the right to manufacture Patriot interceptor missiles. 

He also said Ukraine would likely get a security guarantee from the US “if we can make the right deal”.

Zelenskyy said that element was “very important” to Ukraine. 

Trump: "We had 11 missiles shot by the Islamic Republic of Japan" pic.twitter.com/FUOFLVZiKh

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) July 8, 2026

At one point, Trump mistakenly referred to his Ukrainian counterpart as “president Putin” when asking the media if they had questions for him.

He then asked the journalists if they had questions for the Russian president and said he would ask Putin himself.

One reporter asked when the war would end.

“That’s a good question,” Trump replied.

“I don’t think I’ve ever asked him that question.”

Calling Zelenskyy Putin was not Trump’s only blunder during the meeting. 

When touting the efficacy of Patriot missiles, he said a US aircraft carrier had used them to shoot down 111 missiles launched by “the Islamic republic of Japan”.