Zelensky's 'always looking to purchase missiles' — Trump dismisses Ukraine's request to buy Patriots

U.S. President Donald Trump on April 14 dismissed President Volodymyr Zelensky's request to buy Patriot air defense systems, accusing him of "always looking to purchase missiles" while falsely blaming Kyiv for instigating the war with Russia.

"You don't start a war against someone 20 times your size and then hope that people give you some missiles," Trump said during a White House meeting.

The comments followed Zelensky's interview with CBS News, in which he offered to buy 10 U.S.-made Patriot systems — worth $1.5 billion each — to shield Ukrainian cities from relentless Russian missile and drone strikes.

"We will find the money and pay for everything," Zelensky said, stressing that Ukraine is prepared to purchase, not request for free, the $15 billion package.

Kyiv has consistently urged Western allies to expand air defense assistance, warning that existing systems are insufficient amid Russia's intensifying aerial campaign, which most recently killed 35 civilians in Sumy on April 13.

Trump has not allocated any new aid packages for Ukraine and even briefly paused military assistance approved by the Biden administration last month to pressure Kyiv into accepting a minerals deal.  

The U.S. president also expressed doubt about Zelensky's leadership and falsely claimed that the war was caused by the Ukrainian president.

"Millions of people dead because of three people," Trump said, naming Russian President Vladimir Putin, former U.S. President Joe Biden, and Zelensky.

Trump's claim directly contradicts the facts. Russia launched its unprovoked, full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, while Zelensky had repeatedly called for de-escalation prior to the invasion.

‘Everything we heard from Russians was a lie’ — Chinese fighters captured by Ukraine speak out

The two Chinese nationals captured when fighting for Russia claimed they weren’t sent to the war by the Chinese government, and described their hardships in the Russian ranks. One of the captives, Wang Guangjun, said he was targeted by Russian “chemical weapons” right after he was taken captive by

The Kyiv IndependentKateryna Denisova

Trump earlier described Russia's deadly attack on Sumy — which struck a crowded civilian area with cluster munitions, killing two children — as "terrible," but suggested it was carried out by "mistake."

The U.S. president did not clarify the basis for his claim.

Ukraine agreed to a U.S.-proposed 30-day ceasefire on March 11, but Moscow rejected the proposal unless it included severe restrictions on Ukraine's military, including halting foreign aid.

Russia has continued to issue maximalist demands while escalating strikes on Ukrainian cities.

Trump, who has sought to broker a ceasefire between Kyiv and Moscow, said on April 7 he was "not happy" with Russia's intensified bombardments across Ukraine.

NBC News reported on March 30 that Trump was "pissed off" at Putin's personal animosity toward Zelensky, while the Telegraph wrote on March 23 that he was increasingly angry over Russia's refusal to de-escalate the war.

Despite expressing frustration, Trump has so far avoided imposing any major sanctions or taking punitive action against Moscow.

‘Panic, screams, dead everywhere’ — Sumy in shock after double-tap missile attack kills 35

Valeriia Maksimova and her husband woke up to the first explosion in central Sumy at around 10 a.m. Their house was damaged by the blast wave. The 38-year-old rushed to the kitchen to start clearing the rubble when the second explosion struck, throwing her three meters away into

The Kyiv IndependentAsami Terajima