US President Donald Trump addressed the US Congress for the first time as the 47th President, using the opportunity to express his views on the recent events in Ukraine. Republicans and Democrats in the Congress took the chance to express their dissent through brief protests and hand-held signs. Elon Musk, a close associate of Trump, was also present and was criticized by Democrats.
After a nearly 90-minute discussion of internal politics, Trump turned his attention to the recent events in Ukraine. He emphasized the importance of ending the hostilities and reiterated his commitment to mediating a swift ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia. Trump stated, “I am working tirelessly to bring an end to the brutal conflict in Ukraine, where millions of Ukrainians and Russians have needlessly been killed or wounded and an end is not in sight.”
Trump also mentioned that the US has provided hundreds of billions of dollars in support of Ukraine’s defense, but without any guarantee or results. He expressed his desire for the bloodshed to end, saying, “It’s not about Americans, but I want it to stop.” Trump also mentioned receiving a letter from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in which Zelensky expressed his willingness to come to the negotiating table to achieve a lasting peace.
Trump criticized the European allies of the US for spending more on the purchase of Russian energy than on supporting Ukraine, saying, “In the meantime, Europe has unfortunately spent more on the purchase of Russian oil and gas than on the defense of Ukraine and that’s a big difference.” He also questioned the appropriateness of the US financial support for Ukraine, asking, “Do you want to continue this for another five years?”
The speech came just days after a heated dispute between the Ukrainian government and Trump, as well as Vice President J.D. Vance, in the White House. The planned mineral agreement between the US and Ukraine was not signed as expected. Trump stated that the agreement, which he expected to recover the US funds spent on Ukraine, was on the right track, citing a statement from Zelensky that he was willing to negotiate a ceasefire and sign the agreement. Trump welcomed the change in Zelensky’s stance.
On the topic of the Middle East, Trump only dedicated a few sentences, failing to mention the suffering of people in Gaza or his controversial plans in the region. He simply stated, “We are bringing our hostages back from the Gaza Strip. And now we will build on this foundation to create a more peaceful and prosperous future for the entire region. A lot is happening in the Middle East.