Zelensky’s viral 7-word comeback to Donald Trump stuns world leaders

Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky met on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Turkey, where the US president’s question about travelling to Moscow prompted a sharp and witty comeback from the Ukrainian leader

United States President Donald Trump found himself in an uncomfortable exchange with Volodymyr Zelensky during a bilateral meeting in Turkey. The two leaders met on the fringes of a NATO summit to discuss the ongoing conflict in Ukraine involving Russian forces.

Addressing reporters, Trump disclosed that Russian President Vladimir Putin would meet with Zelensky, expressing his hope that it would occur “soon. “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.'”.

“It doesn’t work,” stated the U.S. president, adding that he doubted Zelensky would make the trip to Moscow, reports the Express. “Maybe he would. Would you go to Moscow?” Trump queried, turning to his Ukrainian counterpart.

Zelensky pointed out that the journey would be fraught with difficulties. “There are a lot of Ukrainian drones,” he quipped, eliciting laughter from those present. “It’s dangerous.”

Trump faced relentless online mockery for the odd remark, while others praised Zelensky’s quick wit. “You can see Trump struggling to find words,” one individual commented.

“Zelensky is so fed up with this . . . and I’m here for it,” another person posted. A third person remarked: “Zelensky controlling the room is insane. Look at Trump struggling to find his direction.”

Ukraine has launched numerous attacks against Russian oil refineries, with the country’s largest refinery in Siberia targeted earlier this week. The Gazprom Neft-operated refinery, situated on the fringes of Omsk in western Siberia, was seen engulfed in flames at several locations in NASA satellite images and social media footage referenced by the Ukrainian military on Monday, 6 July.

The refinery is roughly 1,550 miles (2,500km) from the Ukrainian border. “An impact with subsequent fire was recorded on the territory [of the refinery]. The extent of the damage is being verified,” Ukraine’s General Staff declared via Facebook, adding: “This is the last of the 11 largest petrol producers in Russia that have been hit.”

These strikes represent the first time the Omsk region has been targeted in a Ukrainian drone attack since the 2022 invasion. After their discussions, President Trump revealed that he had offered Ukraine the right to manufacture Patriot interceptor missiles, which could strengthen 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.”