Trump accuses Zelensky of taking US money from BIden ‘like candy from a baby’

U.S. President Donald Trump slammed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for allegedly receiving massive financial aid from the U.S. under President Joe Biden’s administration, likening it to "taking candy from a baby."

In an interview with Fox News, Trump claimed that the U.S. had provided Ukraine with what he estimated to be $350 billion in aid, and criticized Zelensky for not showing enough gratitude. Trump further emphasized that under his leadership, he would have prevented the Ukraine crisis from escalating into an open war.

Trump's harsh words come as the U.S. reassesses its financial support for Ukraine. Last week, White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt revealed that the National Security Council had paused funding for Ukraine, citing a review of the situation.

Trump reiterated that any future U.S. aid to Ukraine would depend on Ukraine’s willingness to pursue peace talks with Russia. The former president has repeatedly warned that U.S. involvement in the conflict must be contingent on Ukraine's commitment to peace.

In late February, Trump and Zelensky had a tense exchange at the White House, which saw Trump accuse Zelensky of "gambling with World War III" by refusing to negotiate with Russia. Following that meeting, the U.S. suspended both military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine.