During a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Turkey, US President Donald Trump asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky an unexpected question about traveling to Moscow, prompting a sharp and witty comeback that went viral among world leaders.
Trump's Question and Zelensky's Response
Trump disclosed to reporters that Russian President Vladimir Putin would meet with Zelensky, expressing hope it would happen "soon." He recounted, "One of the things I talked to him about was that I asked him, 'Where would you want to meet?' He said, 'ideally in Moscow.' I said, 'You're not gonna meet in Moscow.'" Trump added that he doubted Zelensky would make the trip, then turned to him and asked, "Maybe he would. Would you go to Moscow?"
Zelensky pointed out the dangers, quipping, "There are a lot of Ukrainian drones. It's dangerous," eliciting laughter from those present. The seven-word comeback quickly spread online, with Trump facing mockery and Zelensky praised for his quick wit. One observer commented, "You can see Trump struggling to find words," while another posted, "Zelensky is so fed up with this... and I'm here for it." A third remarked, "Zelensky controlling the room is insane. Look at Trump struggling to find his direction."
Context of Ukraine's Drone Attacks
Ukraine has launched numerous attacks against Russian oil refineries, including a strike on the country's largest refinery in Siberia earlier that week. The Gazprom Neft-operated refinery on the outskirts of Omsk in western Siberia was seen engulfed in flames in NASA satellite images and social media footage referenced by the Ukrainian military on Monday, 6 July. The refinery is approximately 1,550 miles (2,500 km) from the Ukrainian border. Ukraine's General Staff stated via Facebook, "An impact with subsequent fire was recorded on the territory [of the refinery]. The extent of the damage is being verified. This is the last of the 11 largest petrol producers in Russia that have been hit."
These strikes mark the first time the Omsk region has been targeted in a Ukrainian drone attack since the 2022 invasion.
Trump's Offer of Patriot Missile Licenses
Following their discussions, President Trump revealed that he had offered Ukraine the right to manufacture Patriot interceptor missiles, which could strengthen Kyiv's defenses against Russian ballistic missile attacks. "We are gonna give you a license to make Patriots," Trump told Zelensky. "I think they can produce them very quickly once we explain it."
