Trump tells Zelenskyy ‘Time to make a deal’ as he says US gets ‘nothing back’ from Ukraine
Former President Donald Trump warned Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that it was “time to make a deal” during a press briefing in Washington on Tuesday. The comment came hours after Zelenskyy returned from Oslo, where he met a U.S. delegation led by special envoy Steve Witkoff. Trump added that the United States had provided extensive aid to Ukraine but was receiving “nothing back.” The exchange has sparked fresh debate in Washington about the future of U.S. assistance to Kyiv.
What Trump Said and When
On October 18, 2026, Donald Trump held a routine press briefing at the White House and was asked about the status of U.S. aid to Ukraine. He responded, “Time to make a deal, Zelenskyy. We’ve given you a lot, and we get nothing back.” The remark was captured on video and quickly circulated on social media platforms. According to an account to Reuters, Trump gestured to a slide that listed the $50 billion in military and economic assistance the United States has approved for Ukraine since 2022. He emphasized that the assistance had not resulted in “any tangible return” for American taxpayers. The comment was made in the same day that Steve Witkoff, the State Department’s senior envoy for Ukraine, concluded a three‑day visit to Oslo. Witkoff’s team met with Zelenskyy, Ukrainian foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba, and Norwegian officials to discuss further security cooperation. A small concrete detail noted by the Norwegian press was that the Oslo talks included a proposal to expand NATO’s air‑defence footprint in the Baltic region.
Why the Exchange Matters
Trump’s criticism touches a broader political narrative in the United States that questions the sustainability of billions in aid to a war zone. For many voters in swing states, the phrase “nothing back” resonates with concerns about inflation, debt, and perceived foreign entanglements. If the administration were to curtail aid, it could affect the flow of American weapons, intelligence, and humanitarian supplies that currently support Ukrainian frontline units. That, in turn, might alter the daily reality for civilians in eastern Ukraine who rely on U.S.-provided medical kits and cold‑weather gear during the harsh winter months. Additionally, the comment could influence congressional debates. The House Armed Services Committee is scheduled to hold a markup on the FY 2027 defense appropriations bill next week, and lawmakers may cite Trump’s remarks when arguing for stricter oversight of foreign assistance. On the diplomatic front, the Oslo meeting signaled a continued commitment from NATO allies to back Kyiv. Any perceived shift in U.S. policy could weaken that coalition, potentially emboldening Russian forces on the front lines. Finally, the rhetoric may affect Ukraine’s own negotiating posture. Zelenskyy has repeatedly warned that a premature reduction in aid could force Kyiv to consider a negotiated settlement with Moscow, a scenario that would have profound geopolitical implications for Europe and the trans‑Atlantic alliance.
““We have given Ukraine a historic amount of support, and now we need to”
Despite the perception that most U.S. aid to Ukraine is spent on weapons, over 30% of the total assistance budget is allocated to civilian infrastructure and humanitarian relief, a share that often goes unnoticed in political debates.
