'We want Ukraine war to end … Iran war will be over pretty quickly,' Trump says

Trump digs in on trade war with Canada, citing $60 billion annual deficit

Donald Trump speaks with attendees during an event at the White House Rose Garden in Washington on Thursday to announce an expansion of a foster care program. [Getty Images]
Donald Trump speaks with attendees during an event at the White House Rose Garden in Washington on Thursday to announce an expansion of a foster care program. [Getty Images]

Donald Trump said Wednesday (local time) that CIA Director John Ratcliffe's recent secret visit to Russia could bear fruit, declaring, "Now something can come of it."

Speaking in a phone interview with the conservative radio program "The Glenn Beck Program," Trump said he was working hard to end the war in Ukraine and that both sides now want it over. "We are trying very hard to end that war, and frankly, both of them want to end it at this point," he said.

When asked whether Ratcliffe's visit was aimed at testing NATO's resolve — with some suggesting Vladimir Putin might even strike Britain — or at signaling Washington's commitment to Iran sanctions, Trump drew a line. "Neither one of those," he said.

He described the CIA director's presence in Russia as "kind of a semi-regular thing" and said the visit was focused on ending the war. "We want the Ukraine war to end," Trump said.

On the conflict with Iran, Trump repeated his earlier claims, saying the United States would soon achieve "a big victory" and that the war would end "pretty quickly" because the Strait of Hormuz remains open.

He also said he did not believe Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei was dead. "I don't think he's dead. I think he's very badly injured, but not dead," Trump said.

On the trade war with Canada, Trump made clear he would not back down. "It's time to teach Canada that you can't do this anymore. We are losing $60 billion a year on trade with Canada, and much more than that," he said.


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