 "'Did I say that?' Trump downplays his 'dictator' swipe at Zelenskyy ahead of White House meeting")
US President Donald Trump on Thursday (February 27) seemed to be downplaying his earlier criticism of Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy, questioning whether he really called him a “dictator”.
Responding to a question by a reporter, Trump said, “Did I say that? I can’t believe I said that.”
Trump was talking to the press ahead of his discussion with visiting UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Zelenskyy is scheduled to visit the White House on Friday (February 28), during which the two leaders are expected to sign a deal on joint minerals extraction in Ukraine.
“We’re going to be signing the deal together,” Trump said.
‘Dictator Zelenskyy’
Earlier this month, on February 19, T rump posted an explosive message for the Ukrainian president on the Truth Social platform, accusing him of doing a “terrible job” and dubbing him as “a dictator without Elections”.
“Zelenskyy admits that half of the money we sent him is ‘MISSING.’ He refuses to have Elections, is very low in Ukrainian Polls, and the only thing he was good at was playing Biden “like a fiddle.” A Dictator without Elections, Zelenskyy better move fast or he is not going to have a Country left," wrote Trump.
US-Ukraine mineral deal on cards
Earlier this week, it was reported that both sides had agreed on the terms of the deal on rare earth minerals.
Ukraine and the US reached an agreement on a draft mineral deal after Kyiv agreed to the terms of Ukraine’s rare earth minerals, news agency AP reported, citing Ukrainian officials.
This deal aims to secure continued US military aid for Ukraine amidst its ongoing conflict with Russia.
The two countries will establish joint ownership of a fund to develop the country’s mineral resources. The US is set to receive 50 per cent of future proceeds from state-owned resources, including minerals, oil, and gas.
(With inputs from agencies)
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