Trump calls Zelensky the ‘last person we need help from’

Since the launch of US-Israeli strikes on Iran late last month, Zelensky has repeatedly signaled his readiness to get involved in the conflict, claiming that Washington has appealed for help defending American assets stationed in the Gulf against Iranian retaliatory attacks. On Friday, he reiterated the offer on X, arguing that without Ukrainian “expertise,” the US will not be able to “stabilize the situation.”

In a telephone interview with NBC News on Saturday, the US president rejected the idea that Washington requested or requires Ukrainian assistance.

“We don’t need help,” Trump said, adding that Zelensky is the “last person we need help from.”

Trump also criticized Zelensky’s approach to negotiations with Moscow, arguing that “Zelensky is far more difficult to make a deal with” than Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“I’m surprised that Zelensky doesn’t want to make a deal. Tell Zelensky to make a deal because Putin’s willing to make a deal,” he told NBC.

Since returning to office last year, Trump has pushed for a negotiated settlement between Kiev and Moscow, leading to US-mediated trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi in January and follow-up negotiations in Geneva last month.

The next round of talks was expected to take place in early March. However, with the Trump administration focused on the conflict with Iran, the meeting has reportedly been postponed until next week at the earliest.

Zelensky then sought to insert Ukraine into the Middle East conflict, saying he had instructed officials to “provide the necessary means and ensure the presence of Ukrainian specialists capable of guaranteeing the necessary security.”

The head of the national security commission of the Iranian parliament, Ebrahim Azizi, reacted on X, saying that “by providing drone support to the Israeli regime, failed Ukraine has effectively become involved in the war,” and warning that Kiev could face retaliation, with the entire country becoming a target.