Trump meets with Zelenskyy and says higher NATO defense spending may deter future Russian aggression

U.S. President Donald Trump met with Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the NATO summit Wednesday and suggested that increased spending by the trans-Atlantic alliance could help prevent future Russian aggression against its neighbors. “Europe stepping up to take more responsibility for security will help prevent future disasters like the horrible situation with Russia and Ukraine,” Trump said at the summit-ending news conference shortly after seeing Zelenskyy. Over the course of the war, the U.S. has routinely pressed for allies to provide air defense systems to Ukraine.