Trump warms up to winner Zelensky after last years Oval Office blowup: good relationship

President Trump on Wednesday marveled that he and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky have come a long way from last year’s disastrous White House meeting that blew up into battle over gratitude — and officials escorting the Kyiv leader out before a planned luncheon.The warmth was on display during a NATO summit meeting, where Trump discussed granting Kyiv a license to manufacture its own Patriot interceptor missiles—a big gift to Zelensky.“We’ve actually developed a good relationship! Hard to believe, right? From the Oval Office to now,” the president said at the top of his sit-down with Ukraine’s leader, later adding that he is willing to visit Ukraine “at the right time.”There was no animosity when Trump accidentally referred to Zelensky as “President Putin” — and he quickly saved face by claiming he was soliciting questions for the Russian dictator for a call they would have later.Trump appears to have cozied up closer to Ukraine as Russia’s war on the country has turned in Kyiv’s favor in recent months, speaking far more positively about Zelensky and his country’s fight than before.“Everyone knows the president loves winners,” a source with knowledge of the growing relationship told The Post.

“And right now, Ukraine is winning.”Trump’s former envoy to Ukraine retired Lt.Gen.

Keith Kellogg echoed that assessment, telling The Post on Wednesday that the strengthened relationship is “because Zelensky is winning.”“Zelensky’s putting the pressure on the Russians, and I think the President now realizes this guy, Putin — who may be a nice guy with you — but basically, he’s not winning the war.”“People have told him Putin’s winning, he’s been thinking he’s winning — he’s not.Now Trump realizes, ‘well, maybe I’m on the wrong horse right now,'” Kellogg added.Ukrainians are now eliminating roughly 35,000 Russian troops each month — a rate that Moscow can’t keep up with backfilling new recr...