President Donald Trump mistakenly called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky “President Putin” during a joint press conference at the NATO summit in Ankara on July 8, 2026.
Zelensky stood beside him as Trump gestured toward the Ukrainian leader and invited reporters to ask questions for Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The exchange occurred as the two leaders appeared together following discussions on the Russia-Ukraine war.
Trump pointed toward Zelensky and said, “You have a question for President Putin, please?” After audible reactions from reporters, Trump continued without immediately correcting himself.
“Do you have a question for President Putin, not Zelensky, Putin,” Trump said. “What would you like to ask him? Because I’m gonna ask him that question.”
The Press Conference Exchange
Trump continued by asking reporters to provide a question specifically for Putin. When one reporter asked when Putin would end the war, Trump said it was a good question that he intended to raise directly.
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“I don’t think I’ve ever asked him that question. I’m gonna ask him that question,” Trump said. He added that Putin “wants it ended as soon as he can end it” and “wants to end it soon,” citing his frequent conversations with the Russian leader.
Trump also said he speaks with Putin more often than with Zelensky, while describing the U.S.-Ukraine relationship as “very good.”
The exchange took place during a broader briefing on NATO, missile defense and efforts to end the war in Ukraine. Trump also announced that the United States would allow Ukraine to co-produce Patriot missile systems domestically.
Additional Verbal Missteps
Trump made at least one other notable verbal slip during the same press conference. While discussing missile attacks on a U.S. aircraft carrier and the effectiveness of Patriot defense systems, he referred to Iran as the “Islamic Republic of Japan.”
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Similar verbal mix-ups by Trump have previously generated debate, with supporters characterizing them as minor speaking errors during lengthy unscripted events, while critics have argued they raise questions about his public remarks.
The NATO Summit
The summit in Ankara focused on NATO defense spending, the war in Ukraine and broader regional security concerns, including Iran. Trump has repeatedly said he is in regular contact with Putin and has promoted negotiations as the best path to ending the conflict.
During the press conference, Trump described both Putin and Zelensky as “difficult characters” but said he remained optimistic that a resolution could be reached. He also reiterated U.S. support for Ukraine through expanded Patriot missile production.
Zelensky remained beside Trump throughout the briefing, and no immediate reaction from the Ukrainian president to the name mix-up was noted.
The episode adds to a series of public verbal slips that have attracted scrutiny throughout Trump’s political career.
Neither the White House nor Zelensky’s office immediately issued a statement specifically addressing the wording, while the NATO summit continued with further discussions on alliance commitments and regional security.
