‘You’ll see things happen’ if US is unhappy with Putin’s decisions on Ukraine, Trump says
Asked for his message to Russia’s Putin, Trump says:
“I have no message to President Putin, he knows where I stand.
He’ll make a decision one way or the other, whatever his decision is, we will either be happy about it or unhappy and if we’re unhappy about it, you’ll see things happen.”
Key events
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Poland’s Nawrocki gets from Trump the big declaration he wanted – snap analysis
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Trump says ‘not happy’ with number of people dying in Russian invasion on Ukraine every week
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‘Never even thought in terms of removing soldiers from Poland,’ Trump says
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‘You’ll see things happen’ if US is unhappy with Putin’s decisions on Ukraine, Trump says
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Trump gets annoyed at reporter for suggestions he took ‘no action’ against Putin
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US troops will stay in Poland, Trump declares
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Trump and Nawrocki speaking from Oval Office
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Poland’s Nawrocki meets US Trump at White House – live stream
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Poland’s Nawrocki arrives at White House – in pictures
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Poland’s Nawrocki arrives at White House to meet US Trump
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Putin’s Moscow suggestion ‘knowingly unacceptable,’ Ukrainian foreign minister says
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UK sanctions individuals, organisations involved in forced deportations of Ukrainian children
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‘In era of resurging Russian imperialism, deeper cooperation with US is fundamental,’ Poland’s former president Duda says
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No preparations for Trump’s visit to Russia, Putin says
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Putin signals readiness to raise seniority of Russia’s delegation for talks with Ukraine
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Putin appears unfazed by prospect of more EU sanctions, claiming Ukraine is ‘excuse’ for measures targeting Russia
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‘If common sense prevails, there is a way of ending this conflict,’ Putin says, but warns about ‘military means’ if no agreement
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‘Let him come to Moscow,’ Putin says about Zelenskyy
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‘Let Zelenskyy come to Moscow’ for meeting, Putin says
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Poland’s Nawrocki set to visit Trump for talks on security, Ukraine in his first foreign policy test
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‘You’re not only fighting your own war; you’re fighting for entire future of Europe,’ Denmark’s Frederiksen tells Zelenskyy
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Coalition of the Willing ‘will try’ to speak to Trump on Thursday to urge more pressure on Russia, Zelenskyy says
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Thursday’s meeting of the Coalition of the Willing to firm up plans for guarantees for Ukraine, Nato’s Rutte says
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Afternoon opening: Intense diplomatic work on Ukraine
Poland’s Nawrocki gets from Trump the big declaration he wanted – snap analysis
Jakub Krupa
One should always be cautious about judging the visit from its first half hour, but you bet that Nawrocki’s officials in Warsaw are very pleased with that they just heard.
Concerns about the future of the US military presence in Poland and the broader region have featured very prominently in the Polish public debate in recent months, with rumours and speculations about potential reduction of US troops in the country amid signals about the US looking to shift its focus and prioritise the Indo-Pacific region.
To get Trump to pledge in this meeting that he’s got no plans to do so – or even that he could increase their presence – is a big political win for Nawrocki and his allies.
When Poland controversially skipped the recent Zelenskyy-Trump meeting in the White House, Nawrocki’s aides argued their primary focus was on a bilateral agenda with the US, and this issue would feature prominently on their list coming into today’s meeting.
Obviously, you just never know with Trump as he can and often does change his views. But for now, that was exactly what Nawrocki and his team were hoping for.
Trump says ‘not happy’ with number of people dying in Russian invasion on Ukraine every week
Asked what he will do to end the war, Trump says he will have a conversation with “him” – erm – “very shortly, and I will know pretty much what we are going to be doing.”
(It’s not entirely clear if he means Putin or Zelenskyy or Nawrocki, as confirmed by a desperate journalist asking “but who” – but probably he meant Putin?)
“We’ve taken very strong action, as you know, and in other ways, we’ve taken very strong action, but I’ll be speaking to him over the next few days and we’re going to see,” he says.
He adds that he is “not happy” with the number of people being killed every week there.
“They’re human beings, their souls, they have parents. They wave goodbye to their parents, and their parents never see them again … I want to see it stopped now,” he says.
He then blames Biden for the Russian invasion on Ukraine, saying:
A big reason this war happened was sitting right in these chairs, this one in particular.
He ends by saying he thought the Russian invasion on Ukraine wouldn’t be that difficult to end, and “would be in the middle of the pack, maybe on of the easiest,” but adds:
“You never know with war. War is complex and dangerous and what a mess, what a bloody mess. It’s going to be done one way or the other. But they have to stop killing all of these souls.”
And that ends the press spray in the Oval Office.
Trump hails his tariff policy now.
He also celebrates the US deal with the EU, saying “we made a deal with the European Union where they’re paying us almost a trillion dollars, and they’re happy to do it.”
“You know that? They’re happy it’s done.”
He talks about it in the context of the Supreme Court case on tariffs, which he says is going to be “very, very big.”
‘Never even thought in terms of removing soldiers from Poland,’ Trump says
Asked about the US-Polish relations, Trump says Poland is in “a very special relationship” category.
He goes even further on his promise to not pull out any troops from Poland – but in the process confirms there are considerations about pulling some troops from other European countries.
“It’s like the question about the soldiers that was asked. We never even thought in terms of removing soldiers from Poland.
We do think about it with regard to other countries, but we would never … we’re with Poland all the way, and we will help Poland protect itself.”
Poland’s Nawrocki then says “it is the first time in Polish history … that the Poles are happy to have foreign soldiers in Poland.”
He says Poland is not a “free rider” within Nato as it spends 4.7% GDP on defence, and will reach the new 5% target soon.
Trump notes that “Poland was one of two nations that paid more than they were supposed to within Nato.”
Over the last few minutes, Trump has been mostly speaking about domestic US issues, including Venezuela and his anti-crime agenda.
So, here is a picture from inside the Oval Office:
Trump was also earlier asked about the Chinese military parade, saying it was a “beautiful ceremony” and “very, very impression.”
He says the US should have been acknowledged in speeches “for helping China to gain its freedom.”
“But I understood the reason they were doing it, and they were hoping I was watching, and I was watching. My relationship with all of them is very good.
We’re going to find out how good it is over the next week or two.”
‘You’ll see things happen’ if US is unhappy with Putin’s decisions on Ukraine, Trump says
Asked for his message to Russia’s Putin, Trump says:
“I have no message to President Putin, he knows where I stand.
He’ll make a decision one way or the other, whatever his decision is, we will either be happy about it or unhappy and if we’re unhappy about it, you’ll see things happen.”
Trump gets annoyed at reporter for suggestions he took ‘no action’ against Putin
Trump angrily reacts to a suggestion from a Polish reporter that he has not followed up on his warnings to Putin, despite the Russian president still not agreeing to a meeting with Ukraine’s Zelenskyy.
“How do you know this? How do you know there’s no action? Really?,” he says.
He points to sanctions on India that “cost hundreds of billions of dollars.”
“You call that no action, and I haven’t done phase two yet or phase three, but when you say there’s no action, I think you ought to get yourself a new job,” he says.
US troops will stay in Poland, Trump declares
Straight away, we have a big declaration that Poland will be very happy with.
Asked about the US military posture in Poland and whether the US troops will remain there, Trump says:
“I think so. I mean, do you know something I don’t? [I’m] very happy. If anything, we can put more there, if they want; they’ve long wanted to have a larger presence.
We have some countries that have more, not too many, but no, they will be staying in Poland. We are very much aligned with Poland.”
Trump and Nawrocki speaking from Oval Office
Trump and Nawrocki are now speaking from the Oval Office.
Trump welcomes his guest saying “he had an incredible race” and “came from behind” to win it “very handily” in what he says was a “pretty tough, pretty nasty race.”
“I don’t endorse too many people, but I endorsed him, and I was very proud of that the job he’s done,” he tells of Nawrocki.
Nawrocki thanks him for his support during the campaign and hails “strong” relations with the US, paying tribute to the Polish diaspora in the country.
The pair also pay tribute to the Polish F-16 pilot who died last week, maj Maciej “Slab” Krakowian, with Trump calling him “a legend.”
Moving on to the meeting, Trump says they will talk about trade, among other things.
Poland’s Nawrocki meets US Trump at White House – live stream
Jakub Krupa
If you want to follow Nawrocki’s visit, you can watch out stream below, which should show the leaders’ Oval Office chat when it begins soon-ish.
I will obviously bring you all the key news lines here.
Poland’s Nawrocki arrives at White House – in pictures
Poland’s Nawrocki arrives at White House to meet US Trump
Poland’s Nawrocki is arriving at the White House now, with Trump welcoming him outside.
As part of the official welcome, the pair is also expected to watch a military flyover from the South Lawn, which is reported to involve F16 and F35 fighter jets.
The F16 are reportedly involved to pay tribute to a Polish fighter jet pilot who died in a tragic accident at an airshow in Poland last week, Polish media were told.
But there is also a commercial element to it: Poland is Nato’s top spender, spending billions on US military equipment, including on fighter jets.
For background on the visit, read our full report:
Putin’s Moscow suggestion ‘knowingly unacceptable,’ Ukrainian foreign minister says
In the meantime, Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha responded to Putin’s non-starter of a suggestion that Zelenskyy could travel to Moscow for bilateral talks on ending the war (16:01).
Sybiha said:
“Right now, at least seven countries are ready to host a meeting between leaders of Ukraine and Russia to bring an end to the war. Austria, the Holy See, Switzerland, Türkiye, and three Gulf states.
These are serious proposals and President Zelenskyy is ready for such a meeting at any point of time.
Yet, Putin continues to mess around with everyone by making knowingly unacceptable proposals. Only increased pressure can force Russia to finally get serious about peace process.”
UK sanctions individuals, organisations involved in forced deportations of Ukrainian children
As we wait for Nawrocki to leave Blair House in Washington and get en route to the White House (the whole 230m!), let me bring you an update from London.
Earlier today, the UK government has sanctioned 11 Russian officials and organisations allegedly involved in the Kremlin’s policy of forced deportations and indoctrination of Ukrainian children.
The UK government said that “to date, more than 19,500 Ukrainian children have been forcibly transferred or deported by the Russian authorities to Russia and the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.”
UK foreign secretary David Lammy said:
“The Kremlin’s policy of forced deportations, indoctrination and militarisation of Ukrainian children is despicable, and demonstrates the depths of depravity that President Putin will reach to erase Ukrainian language, culture and identity.”
More details about the package can be found here.
‘In era of resurging Russian imperialism, deeper cooperation with US is fundamental,’ Poland’s former president Duda says
Polish president Karol Nawrocki is expected at the White House in the next few minutes.
His predecessor as Poland’s head of state, Andrzej Duda, who left the office in August after 10 years and also had close relations with Trump, has just been speaking to Republika TV.
He said:
“In today’s era of the resurgence of Russian imperialism, in today’s age of an unmistakable Russian threat, the necessity to strengthen Euro‑Atlantic ties, the necessity to deepen cooperation with the United States – of course from the standpoint of our own interest, of our security, but also our economic interest – is, in my view, absolutely fundamental. …
This applies not only in terms of safeguarding the security of Nato’s entire eastern flank, but also in terms of securing the continued economic development of the entire European Union.”
Jakub Krupa
And that ends Putin’s press conference in Beijing.
Good timing: given that we are expecting Poland’s Nawrocki at the White House in the coming hour, we will no doubt see Trump asked about some of the points raised about Putin in his press conference.
No preparations for Trump’s visit to Russia, Putin says
Putin also got asked about his invitation, expressed during the Alaska summit, for Trump to visit Russia.
He says there are no active preparations for any such visit, but the invitation remains open.
Putin signals readiness to raise seniority of Russia’s delegation for talks with Ukraine
Putin also suggested Russia could send a more senior representation for future talks with Ukraine.
Asked about it, he said:
“If there’s a need to increase the level of the representative group, we are prepared for this. I am not prepared to talk about specific people, but yes, we’re prepared … to lift it to a very high political level.”