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President Trump Says He Doesn't Hold Zelensky Responsible For Russia-Ukraine War But 'I'm Not A Big Fan'
Forbes Breaking News
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4/17/2025
In his Oval Office meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, President Trump slammed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky but said he didn't blame him for the Russia-Ukraine War, which Russia started.
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00:00
Oh, you have a great Prime Minister, you're so lucky.
00:07
In Italian?
00:09
Yes, that's right.
00:10
Okay.
00:11
I'm not sure they do agree.
00:12
President Meloni, I would like to know what you think of the fact that President Trump
00:17
is considered the responsible Zelensky of the Ukraine.
00:20
And then, if you have talked about the military expenses,
00:23
what are the maximum limits you have said that you want to live in Italy
00:27
the percentual of the military expenses?
00:29
We have talked about the military expenses,
00:32
we have talked about the fact that Italy is...
00:45
...but we have talked about how much this percentual is,
00:51
even if we are aware that the defense is particularly important in this time.
00:56
For what regarding the Ukraine, I don't know exactly what I think.
00:59
I think that there is an invasion of Putin and Russia,
01:01
but it is not what we are saying.
01:02
I think that there is an invasion of Putin and Russia,
01:05
but it is not what we are saying.
01:07
It is not what we are saying.
01:09
It is not what we are saying.
01:10
It is not what we are saying.
01:12
It is not what we are saying.
01:13
It is not what we are saying.
01:14
It is not what we are saying.
01:15
It is not what we are saying.
01:16
It was about...
01:17
It was beautifully presented, but maybe I could hear what she said.
01:47
Go ahead.
01:49
Guys, have some respect, please.
01:53
No, no, wait.
01:54
I want to hear what she said.
01:57
Go ahead.
01:59
President – Prime Minister Maloney was asked whether – what she thinks about the fact
02:04
that President Trump holds Zelensky responsible for the war in Ukraine.
02:11
And Prime Minister Maloney answered, well, actually we have – and also you talked about the military spending,
02:25
how – and the raising of the military spending.
02:28
And the first thing Prime Minister Maloney said is that no, actually we didn't talk about the raise
02:35
and military spending.
02:36
Of course, Italy will keep its commitments with 2%, and then we will see because we are absolutely
02:43
aware of the fact that it is very important to – the defense is very important.
02:48
I will do that.
02:49
I will do that.
02:50
I will do that.
02:51
I will do that.
02:52
They have been asking if we raise – if we decided another defense percentage about the
02:55
defense spending.
02:56
Right.
02:57
NATO.
02:58
And I said – yes, NATO.
02:59
And I said that Italy is reaching the 2% as it was already decided.
03:05
We didn't speak about the specific other percentage, but we are aware of the fact that defense is
03:12
important for the future, and we see also the war that we are trying to do at the European
03:18
level.
03:19
And I don't hold – I don't hold Zelensky responsible.
03:23
No.
03:24
But I'm not exactly thrilled with the fact that that war started.
03:29
That was a war that would have never started if I were President.
03:32
You'd have millions of people living right now that are dead.
03:35
You'd have cities that would be open and thriving, and they'd have their beautiful
03:39
terrorists.
03:40
Those terrorists are the most beautiful in the world, but they're not with us any
03:44
longer.
03:45
They're smashed to smithereens laying on the ground in a million pieces, getting hit by
03:50
rockets, bombs, and bullets.
03:53
And so I'm not happy with him, and I'm not happy with anybody involved.
03:58
I think it's a war.
03:59
I know it's a war.
04:00
It didn't happen for four years.
04:02
It was never close to happening.
04:03
It was never even a thought.
04:05
And I spoke to President Putin about it a lot.
04:07
It was the apple of his eye, but there's no way he would have ever gone in if I were
04:11
President.
04:12
Now I'm trying to get him to stop because, as you know, Russia's a lot bigger.
04:19
It's a bigger military force.
04:20
It's a bigger military force.
04:22
And if you're smart, you don't go involved and get involved in wars that you could blame
04:29
the man that was sitting in this seat, Biden.
04:31
He didn't know what the hell was going on.
04:33
But I can guarantee you that, and everybody agrees to it, if I were President, that war would
04:38
have never taken place.
04:39
I'm not blaming him.
04:40
But what I am saying is that I wouldn't say he's done the greatest job.
04:45
Okay?
04:46
I'm not a big fan.
04:47
I really am.
04:48
I'm not a big fan.
04:49
I'm not a big fan.
04:50
I'm not a big fan.
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0:38
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