'Lots of Ukrainian drones': Zelensky jokes his way out of Moscow peace talks question

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky quipped that it would be dangerous for him to set foot in Moscow because of Ukrainian drones in the city, when President Donald Trump asked him: "One of the things that I talked to him (Russian President Vladimir Putin) about was, where would you want to meet? And he said, ideally, in Moscow. I said, you're not going to meet in Moscow. It just doesn't work. Would you go to Moscow?" Zelensky's quip came on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara on Wednesday.

Trump, however, conceded that the two leaders will meet soon and make something "positive" happen regarding the ongoing war between the two nations. "I hope it's going to happen soon because, number one, lives, but number two, building Ukraine," Trump said, adding that Zelensky and Putin both want a solution but claimed they are "difficult" characters to deal with who have an unflinching commitment. Trump stopped short of setting a deadline for ending the war, which has surpassed two million casualties since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.

The 80-year-old explained, using an analogy, how he is approaching the resolution. "You have two kids in a park, and they don't like each other, and they start fighting. Sometimes you have to let them fight. Let them see that it's tough. Fighting is tough. He's been very effective. It's very interesting because you'd almost say it's worse than ever, and maybe it isn't. I don't know that it's the worst right now. It's consistently bad," he said during a freewheeling press conference riddled with multiple gaffes.

Whether or not a solution is reached, the 48-year-old, a former stand-up comedian, appears to be referring to how Ukraine has gained a technical upper hand against Russia with his joke after noting that Russia started the war as a bigger power with a tremendous advantage. Trump also acknowledged Ukraine's ability to make drones quickly and efficiently during the conference. "They can make them in basements," he joked, adding he would be open to a drone deal between the two nations.

But there is one thing that Ukraine does not have, in Zelensky's estimation, for which it seeks American help—Patriot interceptors. The need for which was felt earlier this week after Russian missiles targeted the Ukrainian capital twice, crashing into buildings and killing more than 50 people. The attack came after Ukrainian drones escalated their offensive by striking oil refineries and military targets in Russia, resulting in significant fuel shortages and loss of power.