Just despicable.
Zelensky should call his own press conference.Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky have clashed in an extraordinary exchange at the White House, with Trump telling the Ukrainian president to "make a deal or we're out"
You can watch their angry exchanges in the video on this page
The US president tells his Ukrainian counterpart to be "thankful" and accuses him of "gambling with World War Three"
Zelensky says there should be "no compromises" with Vladimir Putin - but Trump says Kyiv will have to make concessions to reach a peace deal with Russia.
[...]
Zelensky has now left the White House and a planned news conference with the two presidents has been cancelled
"He can come back when he is ready for peace," Trump posted on his Truth Social platform.
BBC
There is no respect in the Oval Office as long as Trump occupies it.Basically, a public dressing down of the Ukrainian leader by Donald Trump and Vice-President JD Vance
It began by Vance saying to Zelensky that the war had to be ended through diplomacy.
What kind of diplomacy, Zelensky replied.
He was then accused by the vice-president of being disrespectful.
This then escalated very quickly.
[...]
Here's [Trump's] Truth Social post in full:“We had a very meaningful meeting in the White House today. "Much was learned that could never be understood without conversation under such fire and pressure. "It’s amazing what comes out through emotion, and I have determined that President Zelensky is not ready for Peace if America is involved, because he feels our involvement gives him a big advantage in negotiations. "I don’t want advantage, I want PEACE. "He disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office. "He can come back when he is ready for Peace.”
Bow and kiss the ring.Continuing, Trump tells Zelensky: "Your country is in big trouble."
The Ukrainian leader tries to interject put Trump waves his hands. "No, no, you've done a lot of talking", he says. "Your country is in big trouble," he repeats.
"I know, I know," Zelensky says.
"You're not winning this," says Trump. "You have a damn good chance of coming out OK because of us."
The US president adds: "We gave you through this stupid president [a reference to Joe Biden] $350bn, we gave you military equipment... if you didn't have our military equipment this war would have been over in two weeks".
"In three days, I heard it from Putin," Zelensky replies.
"It's going to be very hard to do business like this," Trump says.
[...]
Trump accuses Zelensky of "gambling with World War Three". He points his finger at the Ukrainian leader.
"What you are doing is disrespectful to the country - this country that's backed you far more than a lot of people said they should have," Trump says.
Zelensky calmly interjects: "I'm with all respect for your country".
Vice-President Vance interrupts: "Have you said 'thank you' once this entire meeting?"
Zelensky replies: "A lot of times".
Vance again says: "No, in this entire meeting, have you said 'thank you'?"
"You went to Pennsylvania and campaigned for the opposition in October. Offer some words of appreciation for the USA and the president who is trying to save your country."
Selling out to Russia. Despicable.
Exactly. So I'm glad Zelensky stormed out. Otherwise, he was going to have to give up Urkaine's mineral riches in return for nothing in the end. Trump was never going to do anything to protect Ukraine from Russia. Zelensky would have lost minerals AND territory.*
The despicable display is in video here. Trump just yelling at Zelensky.
Nauseating is the right word. JVL is as disgusted and angry as anyone, with good reason.
Not just today, Cory.
UPDATE 05:44 pm:
Breached the security of the Oval Office????
Highly unfuckinglikely.
d
Trump concluded the mayhem with a post to Truth Social:“We had a very meaningful meeting in the White House today. Much was learned that could never be understood without conversation under such fire and pressure. It’s amazing what comes out through emotion, and I have determined that President Zelenskyy is not ready for Peace if America is involved, because he feels our involvement gives him a big advantage in negotiations. I don’t want advantage, I want PEACE. He disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office. He can come back when he is ready for Peace.”After the post, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and national security adviser Michael Waltz then reportedly informed Zelensky that he was being asked to leave and that negotiations were done for the day.
[...]
Zelensky, for his part, kept his post-White House visit comments short. “Thank you America, thank you for your support, thank you for this visit. Thank you @POTUS, Congress, and the American people,” he tweeted. “Ukraine needs just and lasting peace, and we are working exactly for that.”
Zeteo
UPDATE 03/03/2025:
And then there came a reason.Zelensky previously said he did not see any reason to apologize after the stunning confrontation with Trump and Vice President Vance in the Oval Office last Friday.
Axios
Understandable and so sad."Our meeting in Washington, at the White House on Friday, did not go the way it was supposed to be. It is regrettable that it happened this way. It is time to make things right. We would like future cooperation and communication to be constructive," Zelensky wrote on X.
He reiterated that Ukraine is committed to ending the war and is "ready to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible to bring lasting peace closer."
"Nobody wants peace more than Ukrainians. My team and I stand ready to work under President Trump's strong leadership to get a peace that lasts. We are ready to work fast to end the war," Zelensky added.
Zelensky also wrote that Ukrainians "really value how much America has done to help Ukraine maintain its sovereignty and independence," and explicitly thanked Trump for providing Ukraine with Javelin weapon systems in his first term.
[...]
On the minerals deal, Zelensky said he sees the agreement "as a step toward greater security and solid security guarantees, and I truly hope it will work effectively."
Up next: Trump crowing about forcing Ukraine to submit.
UPDATE 03/05/2025:
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