*Administration of Donald J. Trump, 2017 *

**Remarks Following a Meeting With President Petro Poroshenko of Ukraine and an Exchange With Reporters **

*June 20, 2017 *

*President Trump.* Thank you very much. It's a great honor to be with President Poroshenko of the Ukraine, a place that we've all been very much involved in. And you've been seeing it, and everybody has been reading about it.

And we've had some very, very good discussions. It's going to continue throughout the day. And I think a lot of progress has been made. And it's a great honor to have you, Mr. President. Thank you. Thank you very much.

Would you like to say something?

*President Poroshenko.* That's a great honor and a great pleasure to be together with you, dear Mr. President—one of the most reliable supporters and partners—strategic partners for Ukraine.

We're really fighting to bring freedom and democracy, and with your very strong support in security and defense—support of our defense, support of my 45 million nation, of the country who is the biggest in the European continent. And I'm absolutely confident that Ukraine is a story of success. And I'm proud to have you, Mr. President, and United States as a core sponsor of this story of success.

And we very much admire of your leadership, of your very effective steps, because today includes two historic dates: 5 months of your Presidency and 3 years when we launched the first peace plan—peace plan of Ukraine. And I'm absolutely confident that our effective coordination can bring the peace to my nation, to my land, and can support our territorial integrity and sovereignty.

*President Trump.* Well, thank you. It's a great honor. Thank you very much. Thank you.

*President Poroshenko*. Thank you.

*Death of Otto F. Warmbier *

*Q. *How will you respond to the death of Otto Warmbier?

*President Trump. *Thank you. I think Otto—it's a disgrace what happened to Otto. It's a total disgrace what happened to Otto. That should never, ever be allowed to happen. And frankly, if he were brought home sooner, I think the result would have been a lot different. He should have been brought home that same day. The result would have been a lot different.

But what happened to Otto is a disgrace. And I spoke with his family. His family is incredible, what they've gone through. But he should have been brought home a long time ago.

Thank you all very much. I appreciate it.

NOTE: The President spoke at 11:09 a.m. in the Oval Office at the White House. In his remarks, he referred to Otto F. Warmbier, a University of Virginia student from Wyoming, OH, who was returned from 17 months of detention by North Korean authorities on June 13 and died on June 19. *Categories:* Interviews With the News Media : Exchanges with reporters :: White House; Meetings With Foreign Leaders and International Officials : Ukraine, President Poroshenko*.*

*Locations: *Washington, DC.

*Names:* Poroshenko, Petro; Warmbier, Otto F.

*Subjects:* Deaths : Warmbier, Otto F.; Ukraine : President; Ukraine : Relations with U.S.

*DCPD Number:* DCPD201700415.