President Donald Trump deflected away questions about how intent he is to force Ukraine to surrender territory to Russia as the terms of a peace deal during a joint meeting with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.
With Støre was Jens Stoltenberg, the country's minister of finance and the former Secretary General of the NATO alliance.
Trump devolved into a confused celebration of Stoltenberg service as a "great general."
After months of putting blame on Ukraine and its president, Volodymyr Zelensky, for Russia's brutal and deadly invasion, Trump has tried to oversee peace talks and nudge Ukraine into accepting the surrender of territory Russia has unilaterally seized. Meanwhile, he has routinely disparaged NATO altogether, leading some observers to be fearful that the alliance could effectively fall apart.
"We're putting a lot of pressure on Russia, and Russia knows that," Trump told reporters. "And some people that are close to it know, or he wouldn't be talking right now. The prime minister understands that better than anybody. He wouldn't be talking right now. He's talking. And we're putting a lot of pressure. I think he wants to make a deal. We're going to find out very soon. But it takes two to tango and you have to have Ukraine want to make a deal, too. And they're being hit very hard. And I do believe they want to make a deal."
"Mr. President ... [you said] Ukraine has to give some territory to win peace, among them Crimea," said one reporter. "Do you stand by that? And I know that the NATO, former NATO general secretary today has told you that he does not agree and he believes the territorial integrity of Ukraine. How would you deal with that with your allies? And do you stand by that? Ukraine have to give?"
Trump declined to answer, directing attention to Stoltenberg.
"The former secretary general happens to be right here, you know, so they can't put words in his mouth," said Trump. "He's a — he's been a great, he's been a great general, frankly, because that's what you are. Really, you're a general. But he's been a great secretary general. We had a tremendous relationship, very successful. And, I think he could speak for himself. He's right here."
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