Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky has been asked to leave the White House early without signing an agreement granting the US rights to the country’s natural resources or holding the planned joint press conference.
The meeting between Zelensky and US President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance quickly devolved into an openly hostile confrontation during which the US head of state accused Zelensky of ungratefulness and unwillingness to negotiate an end to the Ukraine conflict.
The idea of a deal involving Ukraine’s rare-earths was initially floated by Zelensky last autumn, and the US president took him up on the offer earlier this month. There had been some back-and-forth over the past few weeks, as the Ukrainian leader attempted to secure more favorable terms. It was expected that the two leaders would sign a version of the accord on Friday.
Despite the fact that the Ukrainian government reviewed and greenlighted the agreement on Wednesday, the deal has apparently been left in limbo after the fiery exchange at the White House on Friday.
The meeting turned sour when Trump told Zelensky he had to negotiate peace with Russia, after which the Ukrainian leader dug his heels in and insisted that the US should continue supporting his country. Vance soon joined the fray, reasserting Trump’s remarks that Zelensky had failed to show enough respect and gratitude toward the US.
In a post on X, Fox News journalist Jacqui Heinrich wrote that “Trump kicked out Zelenskyy – he did not walk off on his own.”
She further quoted an unnamed member of the White House staff as claiming that the Ukrainian delegation was “begging to reset but [Secretary of State Marco] Rubio and [National Security Advisor Mike] Waltz informed them Zelenskyy needs to leave [the] White House grounds,” and that the Ukrainian leader could “return when he’s ready for peace.”
01 March 2025
01:01 GMTZelensky has brushed aside Senator Lindsey Graham’s comment about resigning.
”No, no... I’m not sure that’s a good idea.” Zelensky said, adding that the decision was for Ukrainians to make.
”Americans vote for American president… Only Ukrainians vote for their president,” he said.
While Zelensky’s fire-year tenure expired in May of last year, he has refused to hold new elections, citing martial law.
- 00:50 GMT
Pro-Ukraine Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) has urged Zelensky to resign after his “disrespectful” conduct in his White House meeting with Trump.
”What I saw in the Oval Office was disrespectful and I don’t know if we can ever do business with Zelensky again,” Graham told reporters.
”He either needs to resign and send somebody over that we can do business with, or he needs to change,” he stressed.
28 February 2025
23:45 GMTZelensky refused to apologize for his behavior at the White House, claiming he was unsure he did anything bad, when repeatedly pressed by Fox News’ Bret Baier on whether the Ukrainian leader owes Trump an apology.
”No, I respect the president, and I respect the American people… I’m not sure we did something bad,” Zelensky said, adding that he felt that some things should be discussed away from the media.
- 23:15 GMT
Zelensky was aiming to secure a superpower’s support and continue fighting Russia, Trump told the press after his explosive meeting with the Ukrainian leader.
“We're looking for peace. We're not looking for somebody that's going to sign up a strong power and then not make peace because they feel emboldened,” Trump said.
“That's what I saw happening,” he said.
“We're not looking to go into a 10-year war… This is a man that wants to get us signed up and keep fighting,” Trump stressed.
- 22:56 GMT
Zelensky overplayed his hand at the derailed White House meeting, Trump said in a comment to Fox News.
“I would say it didn’t work out exactly great,” the US president said. Zelensky “very much overplayed his hand,” he added.
- 22:41 GMT
Ukrainian-born GOP Congresswoman Victoria Spartz stressed that Zelensky dealt the people of Ukraine a major disfavor with his disrespectful public display in the White House.
”Zelensky is doing a serious disservice to the Ukrainian people insulting the American President and the American people – just to appease Europeans and increase his low polling in Ukraine after he failed miserably to defend his country,” Spartz wrote on X.
- 22:32 GMT
Trump’s Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem expressed pride at the way the US president handled the confrontation with Zelensky.
”I am so proud of our Commander-in-Chief. Thank you President @RealDonaldTrump and @VP for standing up for America,” the DHS chief wrote.
”We will not tolerate the political games and disrespect of America,” she added.
- 22:22 GMT
GOP Senator Bernie Moreno supported Trump’s position, praising the US president for standing against “endless” US wars.
“Finally we have a President who will speak the TRUTH and stand up against Washington’s endless wars,” Moreno wrote on X.
“American taxpayers have been funding this war, it’s time to stop the killing and stop risking World War 3!” he added.
- 22:14 GMT
The White House has released an explainer to the explosive meeting between Trump and Zelensky, providing media citations to key points the US president made.
Among them were Zelensky’s past admission to Time Magazine that the Ukraine conflict could splash out into World War III; as well as Trump’s 2017 provision of lethal weapons to Kiev, among others.
- 22:01 GMT
Donald Trump Jr. mocked Zelensky’s attitude at the White House meeting, in a meme on X.
Earlier, he praised his father’s handling of the confrontation.
”This is what leadership looks like. America is done being taken advantage of,” Trump Jr. wrote.
Counter Information publish all articles following the Creative Commons rule creative commons. If you don't want your article to appear in this blog email me and I will remove it asap.
No comments:
Post a Comment