Exclusive: Zelensky "very surprised" by Trump's Ukraine reversal
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When Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his team gathered on Tuesday to discuss their just-concluded meeting with President Trump, they agreed it had gone well.
- They didn't know how well until Trump posted on Truth Social that he now believed Ukraine could defeat Russia militarily. Zelensky had no idea that was coming, he told "The Axios Show," and was "very surprised."
Why it matters: Trump's rhetorical reversal didn't change the situation on the battlefield, or even U.S. policy. But Zelensky left New York feeling much better about his relationship with Trump and the possibility the U.S. will now help him turn the tide of the war.
Behind the scenes: Zelensky said Trump came into Tuesday's meeting with detailed knowledge of Russia's battlefield losses, and a sense that "Putin lied to him."
- Trump told Zelensky he should hit back when Russia strikes his infrastructure with similar strikes inside Russia.
The intrigue: Zelensky asked for a new weapons system that could dramatically increase his ability to do so, he said.
- He wouldn't specify which while the cameras were rolling, but he said Trump told him "he will work on it."
- Overall, Zelensky said, the meeting went "better than I could estimate."
Friction point: Zelensky said Trump gave Putin "more than he deserves" by rolling out the red carpet in Alaska — precious images for a leader anxious to show he's not isolated internationally.
- But now, "he understands that Putin is playing games with him," Zelensky contended.
Flashback: Looking back on the disastrous Oval Office meeting in February and the much more positive recent get-togethers, Zelensky said Trump had come to appreciate that "I love my country and I'm very clear in my messages," even if they're blunt.
- As for the chief antagonist in the Oval Office blow-up, Vice President Vance, Zelensky said "he is not my best friend, but he's not an enemy."
What to watch: Zelensky acknowledged two troubling possibilities: that Trump could flip-flop back to favoring Russia or that he could simply wish Ukraine well but not offer tangible help.
- For now, though, Zelensky is feeling hopeful. Asked if he finally believes Trump wants Ukraine to win the war he said, "I hope so. ... Yes."
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