Trump open to supporting Ukraine, but not Zelensky

• Donald Trump, in a conversation with "The Atlantic," expressed the possibility of supporting Ukraine, but not necessarily its president, Volodymyr Zelensky.
• Trump emphasized that his support for Ukraine does not have to include supplying arms but could take the form of sanctions.
• The former U.S. President stated that he does not consider the conflict in Ukraine to be his war and does not want America to be burdened by it.

Trump responded this way to a question from the magazine's editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, about whether there is anything Putin could do to make the U.S. take Zelensky's side.

- Not necessarily on Zelensky's side, but on Ukraine's side, yes, - replied the former U.S. President.

Trump admitted to having difficulty dealing with Zelensky, recalling an encounter in the Oval Office where, in his view, the Ukrainian leader failed to understand the situation. Referring to their public disagreement at the White House, Trump remarked that Zelensky should have remained silent after presenting his case, criticizing him for unnecessarily pushing for security guarantees.

When asked about the possibility of fully supporting Ukraine, including supplying arms, Trump stated that "it doesn't have to be weapons with ammunition," suggesting that sanctions could be equally effective. Despite this, the former U.S. President emphasized that it is not his war and he does not want America to be burdened by it.

Trump also dismissed suggestions that his approach to Zelensky could unsettle other American allies, such as Taiwan or South Korea.

He argued that there was no need to sympathize with other countries, pointing out that many had prospered at America's expense. Emphasizing his focus on safeguarding U.S. interests, he stressed his commitment to ensuring that the country remains strong and prosperous for the next century.