President Donald Trump made an awkward gaffe during a bilateral meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at a NATO summit in Turkey, suggesting Zelensky travel to Moscow to meet Vladimir Putin. Zelensky's sharp seven-word reply left the internet in awe.
Trump's Awkward Question
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the summit, Trump revealed that he had discussed a potential meeting between Zelensky and Putin. He recounted asking Zelensky where he would like to meet, and Zelensky reportedly said 'ideally in Moscow.' Trump responded, 'You're not gonna meet in Moscow.'
Trump then turned to Zelensky and asked, 'Maybe he would. Would you go to Moscow?' Zelensky replied with a witty remark: 'There are a lot of Ukrainian drones. It's dangerous.' The comment drew laughter from those present.
Online Reactions
The exchange quickly went viral, with social media users praising Zelensky's composure and humor. One person wrote, 'You can see Trump struggling to find words.' Another said, 'Zelensky is so fed up with this s--t, and I'm here for it.' A third added, 'Zelensky controlling the room is insane. Look at Trump struggling to find his direction.'
Ukraine's Drone Strikes
Zelensky's remark referenced Ukraine's ongoing drone strikes deep inside Russian territory. Earlier that week, on July 6, Ukraine's military confirmed a successful attack on the Gazprom Neft-operated refinery in Omsk, western Siberia, located approximately 1,550 miles (2,500km) from the Ukrainian border. Social media footage and NASA satellite imagery showed the refinery ablaze.
Ukraine's General Staff announced 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 gasoline producers in Russia that have been hit.' The strike marked the first time the Omsk region had been targeted in a Ukrainian drone assault since the 2022 invasion.
Trump Offers Patriot Missile License
Following their talks, Trump disclosed that he had offered Ukraine the right to manufacture Patriot interceptor missiles, which could bolster Kyiv's defences 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.'
Trump acknowledged he had yet to inform defence manufacturers Lockheed Martin and Raytheon of his decision, 'but that'll work out all right.' According to the Department of Defense, only 600 missiles are manufactured annually, making Washington reluctant to relinquish any, particularly given that more than half of its stockpile was depleted during this year's conflict with Iran, as reported by the Center for Strategic and International Studies. 'We have Patriots, but we don't have that many. We need them for ourselves, too,' Trump said.
