Trump Promises $5,000 Cheques, Insists on Ukraine Truce & Floats Kim Meeting

A $5,000 cheque for every adult American citizen. A ceasefire he insists Russia and Ukraine have accepted. A possible meeting with Kim Jong Un.

US President Donald Trump ranged across campaign promises and international conflicts on Monday, renewing his proposed cash payout if Republicans retain control of Congress while facing questions about a disputed energy ceasefire and escalating Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia.

Speaking to reporters before travelling to Ohio for a midterm election rally, Trump claimed Russian President Vladimir Putin wanted a peace deal more than Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He also criticised the Houthis, left open further action against Iran and suggested he could meet North Korea’s leader during his forthcoming Asia trip.

‘THEY AGREED BECAUSE I SAID THEY AGREED’

Trump defended his announcement of an immediate halt to attacks on Russian and Ukrainian energy infrastructure, even as Kyiv accused Moscow of continuing strikes.

Asked about reports of Russian violations, he said he would examine them.

“Well, I’ll have to look at it and see because there’s been violations on both sides,” Trump said.

When a reporter pointed out that both countries had not publicly confirmed an agreement, Trump replied: “Well, they agreed. You know why? Because I said you agree. That’s why. They agreed because I said they agreed.”

He urged Putin and Zelenskyy to end the war and claimed that 32,000 people, mostly soldiers, had been killed “this month”. He did not identify the source or precise period covered by that figure in the remarks.

“I think they both support it. I think they want to make a deal, but they don’t know how, but we’re going to get them to make a deal,” he said.

Trump then added: “I think actually Putin wants to make a deal more than Zelensky.”

KYIV SAYS IT HELD FIRE; RUSSIA DID NOT

Zelenskyy offered a sharply different account.

He said Ukraine had refrained from attacking Russian energy facilities the previous night in response to Trump’s announcement, while alleging that Russia continued striking Ukrainian energy infrastructure and other facilities.

“I think it was Putin’s answer to President Trump. And the message from Russia was very clear—they don’t know anything about the energy ceasefire,” Zelenskyy said in remarks from an interview with Fox News.

The Ukrainian president said Kyiv was ready to uphold an energy ceasefire and called on Moscow to take corresponding steps.

Separately, he said a Russian Shahed drone struck a high-rise apartment building in Kyiv, killing two people and injuring nine. He urged Washington to respond firmly and called for greater pressure on Russia.

“The Russians continue their terror against our people, striking residential buildings and taking lives,” Zelenskyy wrote on X.

TRUMP DEFENDS RUSSIAN DIESEL ARRANGEMENT

Trump also defended his decision to facilitate Russian diesel supplies, dismissing criticism from fellow Republicans and arguing that the arrangement would benefit international markets.

“And it’s not really a deal with me, it’s a deal for the rest of the world. So anything that could help our farmers, our ranches, I like,” he said.

On Friday, Trump announced that Russia would supply more than 300,000 tonnes of diesel, followed by another 500,000 tonnes in November and one million tonnes immediately thereafter. A further three million tonnes would follow within a short period, depending on the condition of Russian refineries, he said.

Putin has also argued that Russian oil and petroleum product supplies to the US and global markets would benefit the world economy.

Zelenskyy has opposed measures that would increase Moscow’s energy revenue, warning that additional earnings could finance its military campaign.

Meanwhile, the European Union announced sanctions against a further 1,569 individuals and entities, including 826 Russian companies and 743 of their chief executives, according to a European Council release. The additions brought listings under the relevant sanctions regime to nearly 4,600.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas called for sustained economic pressure on Moscow. Zelenskyy welcomed the measures as a “right and necessary signal”.

HOUTHIS ‘MISBEHAVING VERY BADLY’

Turning to Saudi Arabia, Trump criticised Yemen’s Houthis over repeated attacks on airports and other targets.

“The Houthis are misbehaving very badly. No good,” he said when asked what Washington would do.

Asked whether the escalation was connected to the US midterm elections, Trump said electoral considerations did not shape his response.

“I don’t know how it affects the election. I don’t take that into account,” he said.

He reiterated that Iran would never acquire a nuclear weapon but announced no new military decision against the Houthis. Trump had earlier said Washington was considering joining Saudi operations against the group.

The Saudi-led coalition said on Tuesday that it had intercepted and destroyed two ballistic missiles launched towards Khamis Mushait. Saudi Civil Defence subsequently said the immediate danger there had passed.

Houthi spokesperson Yahya Saree separately claimed a ballistic missile attack on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport and a drone strike on Khamis Mushait Air Base. He also renewed warnings to airlines and travellers against using Saudi airports, while excluding airports and airspace serving Mecca and Medina.

Those claims were made by the Houthi group.

The October 10 attack on Riyadh airport left 13 people dead, including an Indian national who later died from his injuries, and hundreds injured.

IRAN DENIES ROLE IN RAF FAIRFORD INCIDENT

Trump also left open further action against Iran after Britain and allied countries accused Tehran of involvement in a September 27 incident at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire.

“We are going to see,” he told reporters.

He went on to claim that Iran had “no Navy, no Air Force” and inflation of 301%. The remarks were Trump’s assertions; no supporting figures were provided in the supplied report.

A joint statement issued by Britain and its partners recognised the UK’s attribution of Iranian involvement and accused the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of using covert networks and proxies to conduct hostile activity abroad.

The signatories condemned alleged violent plotting, arson, sabotage, cyberattacks and other hostile operations, pledging to investigate and prosecute those responsible.

Iran rejected the allegations. Its Foreign Ministry, quoted by state news agency IRNA, called them “baseless” and accused Britain of relying on vague language without providing solid evidence.

A POSSIBLE FOURTH MEETING WITH KIM

Trump struck a more upbeat tone when asked whether he could meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during his Asia trip in mid-November.

“I may… That’ll be exciting, won’t it? But I get along with him,” he said.

Trump met Kim three times during his first presidential term. No new meeting was confirmed in Monday’s remarks.

He is scheduled to visit China for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Leaders’ Meeting in Shenzhen on November 18–19.

The possibility follows Trump’s August decision to substantially reduce joint US-South Korean military exercises, citing their cost and his relationship with Kim. According to Yonhap, the Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise was shortened from its usual 11 days to five.

$5,000 CHEQUES—IF REPUBLICANS WIN

Alongside the foreign policy remarks, Trump renewed his promise of a $5,000 payment to every adult US citizen if Republicans win control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate in the midterm elections.

“I’m going to give all adult citizens in the United States of America $5,000,” he said in a video shared on Truth Social.

Trump linked the proposed “dividend” to tariff revenue and what he described as record economic success. He warned that a Democratic victory would instead bring higher taxes and an economic depression.

In an earlier statement, he estimated the payout would cost approximately $1 trillion and cited claimed investment commitments of $21 trillion as evidence that it was affordable.

The supplied reports did not set out a payment timetable, detailed funding mechanism or legislative framework. The proposal remains a campaign promise tied to the election outcome.

With inputs from ANI