Donald Trump leaned into his personal feud with Ukraine’s  president, Volodymyr Zelensky, on Sunday. President Zelensky sat down for an interview with Fox News and reacted to criticism from Trump about conduct during the Oval Office meeting with the Ukrainian leader more than a week ago, in which Trump and Vice President JD Vance appeared to gang up on the European leader. On Sunday, Trump reiterated that he thought Zelensky wasn’t “grateful” and added that he “took candy from a baby” — his description of the Biden administration’s policy of military and political support for Ukraine.  The president also seemed to deride the Ukrainian leader’s assertion that his country’s armed forces were serving the country bravely, as he dismissively recalled Zelensky “talking about the fact that they have fought and there’s… bravery because somebody has to use those [US-supplied] weapons.” 

Some reports have indicated that his administration would be interested in cutting a deal with Russia in 2025 that would allow for the project to resume. Referring to Trump throwing Zelensky out of the White House before a minerals deal could be signed, Bartiromo asked the U.S. president, “Are you comfortable with that, the fact you walked away and Ukraine may not survive?” to which Trump replied, “Well, it may not survive anyway. But, you know, we have some weaknesses with Russia. You know, it takes two.” Bartiromo asked him about widespread assumptions that Trump has now sided with Russia against Ukraine, given his hostile treatment of Zelensky; the multiple concessions his administration has appeared to make to Vladimir Putin before talks have even started; Trump’s decision to stop military aid and vital intelligence to Ukraine; the U.S. voting with Russia at the United Nations; and his insistence on minerals deal with little obvious benefit to Ukraine.