US President Donald Trump on Tuesday (local time) addressed a joint session of Congress, his first message to both chambers of the legislature since taking office for the second time. In his speech, Trump said America is working tirelessly to end conflict in Ukraine that has "needlessly killed" millions of Russians and Ukrainians.
"I am also working tirelessly to end the savage conflict in Ukraine. Millions of Ukrainians and Russians have been needlessly killed or wounded in this horrific and brutal conflict, with no end in sight. The United States has sent hundreds of billions of dollars to support Ukraine's defense," Trump said.
The President also took a jab at Washington's European allies, saying they spend more on Russian oil and gas than on defending Ukraine, while the US carries the burden.
"Meanwhile, Europe has sadly spent more money buying Russian Oil and Gas than they have spent on defending Ukraine - by far! And Biden has authorized more money in this fight than Europe has spent," he said.
Trump said Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky has told him Kyiv was ready for talks with Russia and finalization of a US minerals deal, days after a White House clash.
"I received an important letter from President Zelensky of Ukraine. The letter reads, 'Ukraine is ready to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible to bring lasting peace closer. Nobody wants peace more than the Ukrainians," Trump said in an address to Congress.
"He said, 'My team and I stand ready to work under President Trump's strong leadership to get a peace that lasts. We do really value how much America has done to help Ukraine maintain its sovereignty and independence," Trump added.
Zelensky earlier Tuesday said he wanted to "make things right" with Trump after their jaw-dropping clash Friday.
Trump also addressed the issue of rising inflation in America and said he is "fighting every day" to lower prices for consumers despite the onset of the trade war. He promised to tariff other countries as much as they tariff the US.
In the last 24 hours, the Trump administration has launched new 25 per cent tariffs on goods from US neighbours Canada and Mexico, and doubled tariffs on Chinese products to 20 per cent. With those countries planning reciprocal tariffs, the US is finding itself at the beginning of the trade war.
"This is happening by friend and foe," he says, adding that April 2 is when "reciprocal tariffs kick in".
"Whatever they tax us, we will tax them," he says, explaining how the tariffs will work. The US has historically charged lower tariffs than those levied by many of its trading partners. We will take in trillions and trillions of dollars and create jobs like we have never seen before," he said.
He also slammed the EU, India, Mexico and Brazil, adding that "many other nations" also have trade policies that are unfair to Americans.
Trump said America has been "ripped off for decades by every country on Earth, and we will not let that happen any longer."
"If you don't make your product in America, under the Trump administration, you will pay a tariff, and in some cases, a rather large one. Other countries have used tariffs against us for decades. Now, it's our turn," he said.
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