President Trump angrily berated Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a remarkable White House meeting that spiraled into a take down of one of America’s closest allies.
Raising his voice, Trump bluntly accused Zelenskyy of being disrespectful and ungrateful for U.S. defense assistance in Ukraine’s three-year war to repel Russian invaders.
“You need to be more thankful,” Trump lectured Zelenskyy. “You don’t have the cards right now. With us, you start having cards.”
Trump blamed Zelenskyy for continuing what he framed as a hopeless fight against Russian invaders.
“You’re gambling with the lives of millions of people,” Trump yelled. “You’re gambling with World War III.”
After the fractious meeting ended, Trump issued a blunt statement accusing Zelenskyy of being an obstacle to ending the war.
“He can come back when he is ready for peace,” Trump said.
He warned Zelenskyy that he shouldn’t count on any more American help if he does not “make a deal” with Russia that all sides acknowledge would involve handing over big chunks of Ukrainian territory: “You’re either going to make a deal or we’re out.”
AP Photo/ Mystyslav Chernov
Vice President JD Vance, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and President Donald Trump meet in the Oval Office on Friday. (AP Photo/ Mystyslav Chernov)
The commander-in-chief told stunned reporters that Zelenskyy is the main obstacle to peace, repeating Russian strongman Vladimir Putin’s talking points.
“You see the hatred he’s got for Putin,” Trump said as Zelenskyy sat next to him. “That’s very tough for me to make a deal with that kind of hate.”
Trump insisted he’s not siding with Putin, even though he has shocked allies by saying he trusts the Russian strongman to keep his word and has accepted Russian demands that Ukraine forego NATO membership and cede land to the invaders before any talks have even begun.
“I’m aligned with the United States of America,” he said. “And for the good of the world. I’m aligned with the world.”
Vice President J.D. Vance joined in the shocking effort to publicly humiliate Zelenskyy, warning him not to contradict Trump.
“Do you think that it’s respectful to come to the Oval Office of the United States of America and attack the administration that is trying to prevent the destruction of your country?” Vance asked.
Zelenskyy retorted by saying that he and his fellow countrymen are grateful for U.S. help in staving off the Russian invasion.
“We are thankful,” the Ukrainian leader said, struggling to get a word in edgewise as his two counterparts ganged up on him.
As Trump grimaced, Zelenskyy pleaded with him to accept the reality that Russia is to blame for the carnage it unleashed in the February 2022 invasion.
“The president speaks about the people and the soldiers which are dying, but they came to our territory. They came to our land,” Zelenskyy said. “They began this war, and they have to stop.”
Trump ended the fractious meeting by angrily stalking out. Zelenskyy flashed a thumbs up to reporters.
A planned joint news conference with the two leaders was scrapped.
The White House meeting had been expected to focus on the two leaders unveiling a deal for the U.S. to exploit Ukraine’s mineral wealth. Zelenskyy had journeyed to Washington in hopes of also negotiating some additional security guarantees from Trump, but that now seems unlikely.
Trump said during his successful presidential campaign that he could end the Ukraine war in “a day.”
Since returning to the White House, he has held what he calls successful talks with Putin about ending the war, although Putin has not signaled plans to make any concessions so far.
Trump has also seemed to falsely blame Ukraine for starting the war, and called Zelenskyy a “dictator” for not holding elections after the end of his regular term last year, though Ukrainian law prohibits elections while martial law is in place.
Trump has said he hopes to forge closer political and economic ties with Russia. European allies warn that he is making a huge mistake by rewarding Putin for invading Ukraine.
European allies have vowed to step up support for Ukraine if the U.S. pulls back as Trump seems intent on doing.
Before the angry meeting with Trump, Zelenskyy met with a bipartisan group of lawmakers on Capitol Hill.
Support for Ukraine remains high among Democrats and Republicans alike for now, although that could change as Trump flexes his muscle over GOP allies.
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