WASHINGTON: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s assembly with US President Donald Trump resulted in catastrophe on Friday (Feb 28), after the 2 leaders clashed in a unprecedented change earlier than the world’s media on the White Home over the battle with Russia.
Zelenskyy had seen the assembly within the Oval Workplace as a chance to persuade the USA to not aspect with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who ordered the invasion of Ukraine three years in the past.
As a substitute, US President Trump and Vice President JD Vance laid into Zelenskyy, saying he confirmed disrespect, driving relations with Kyiv’s most necessary wartime ally to a brand new low. The Ukrainian chief was informed to depart, a US official mentioned.
An settlement between Ukraine and the US to collectively develop Ukraine’s wealthy pure sources, which Kyiv and its European allies had hoped would usher in higher relations, was left unsigned.
Trump informed reporters whereas departing the White Home for his Florida property that Zelenskyy “overplayed his hand” throughout their Oval Workplace conflict, accusing his customer of wanting to tug out battle with Russia.
“I need a ceasefire now,” Trump mentioned, including he wished combating in Ukraine to finish “instantly”. The US president accused Zelenskyy of “on the lookout for one thing that I am not on the lookout for”.
“He is trying to go on and combat, combat, combat.”
Trump added that Russian President Vladimir Putin – whom he mentioned Friday he had “spoken (to) on quite a few events” – additionally “needs to finish it”.
European leaders leapt to Zelenskyy’s protection. German chancellor candidate Friedrich Merz mentioned “we mustn’t ever confuse aggressor and sufferer on this horrible battle”.
Zelenskyy spoke by phone with French President Emmanuel Macron, NATO Secretary Basic Mark Rutte and EU Council President Antonio Costa, an official within the Ukrainian delegation in Washington informed Reuters.
Britain is because of host a gathering of Europe’s leaders and Zelenskyy on Sunday to debate a safety backstop to any peace settlement between Moscow and Kyiv.
Trump has lurched towards Russia since taking up as president, surprising conventional allies in Europe and past and leaving Ukraine more and more susceptible. Friday’s outburst was probably the most public show of that shift.
Vance pressured the necessity for diplomacy to resolve the largest battle in Europe since World Conflict II, whereas Zelenskyy, together with his arms folded, countered that Putin couldn’t be trusted in any talks and famous that Vance had by no means visited Ukraine.
