US President opens Congress address with striking statement about Ukraine
Donald Trump (photo: Getty Images)
Donald Trump, President of the US, at the beginning of his annual address to Congress, touched on the topic of the war between Russia and Ukraine, and also told the story of a Ukrainian refugee who died in America, according to a broadcast by NBC News.
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Statements about the war in the first minutes of the speech
At the beginning of his remarks, Trump outlined key points, seeking to address the widest possible national television audience.
In particular, the president emphasized that his administration is actively engaged in efforts to settle the war between Russia and Ukraine.
According to the White House, the efforts are aimed at ending hostilities and reducing casualties.
What Donald Trump said about Russia’s war against Ukraine
“And we are working very hard to end the war, the killing, and the slaughter between Russia and Ukraine, where 25,000 soldiers are dying each and every month. Think of that. 25,000 soldiers are dying a month. A war which would have never happened if I were president.”
Story of the Ukrainian woman mentioned by Donald Trump
During the address, the president also mentioned Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska, who was killed in the state of North Carolina. Trump addressed her mother, who was present in the hall, and spoke about the family’s tragedy.
According to him, the woman and her daughter left Ukraine after the start of the full-scale war and settled with relatives in the city of Charlotte.
Donald Trump said that they were proud that a woman who had gone through hell was there with them that day — Anna Zarutska. He stated that in 2022, she and her daughter Iryna left war-torn Ukraine to live with relatives in Charlotte, North Carolina. He continued that last summer, 23-year-old Iryna had been driving home when a man, who had been arrested and released many times without bail, stabbed her in the neck and body. He added that no one would forget the look on Iryna’s face as she looked at her attacker in the final seconds of her life. He said that she had escaped the war only to be killed by a criminal, and he promised Mrs. Zarutska that justice would be served in the case of her daughter Iryna.
What is known about the murder of Iryna Zarutska
The body of the 23-year-old Ukrainian woman was found on August 22 at a light rail station in Charlotte. She had come to the US after the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
According to police, she sustained fatal stab wounds. The suspect — 34-year-old DeCarlos Brown — was detained shortly after law enforcement officers arrived at the scene.
He was charged with first-degree murder, though the motive for the crime has not yet been established.
Brown had been detained multiple times since 2011. The charges included felony larceny, armed robbery, and threats. Most of the cases were later dismissed.
In January 2025, he was also charged with misuse of the 911 system; that case is still pending.
The White House hopes to reach an agreement to end the war in Ukraine by a symbolic date for the US — July 4, when the country will mark the 250th anniversary of its independence. According to sources, Washington, D.C. would like to approach the anniversary with tangible results from diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict.
The Ukrainian authorities believe that Russia is not genuinely seeking to end the war and is simultaneously trying to weaken Kyiv’s position in negotiations. According to the Ukrainian side, Moscow may use the influence of international politicians for this purpose, including US President Donald Trump.
