Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiys conference with Donald Trump has ended in disaster, after the two leaders clashed in a remarkable exchange before the worlds media at the White House over the war with Russia.Zelenskiy had actually seen the conference in the Oval Office as an opportunity to persuade the United States not to side with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who ordered the intrusion of Ukraine 3 years ago.Instead United States President Trump and Vice President JD Vance laid into Zelenskiy, saying he showed disrespect, driving relations with Kyivs most important wartime ally to a brand-new low.
The Ukrainian leader was told to leave, an US official said on Friday.An agreement between Ukraine and the United States to jointly establish Ukraines rich natural deposits, which Kyiv and its European allies had actually hoped would introduce much better relations, was left unsigned and in limbo.European leaders jumped to Zelenskiys defence.
German chancellor candidate Friedrich Merz said we must never confuse assailant and victim in this awful war.Zelenskiy spoke by phone with French President Emmanuel Macron, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and EU Council President Antonio Costa, an authorities in the Ukrainian delegation in Washington informed Reuters.Britain is because of host a conference of Europes leaders and Zelenskiy on Sunday to go over a security backstop to any peace contract in between Moscow and Kyiv.Trump has actually stumbled towards Russia given that taking control of as president, shocking traditional allies in Europe and beyond and leaving Ukraine progressively susceptible.
Fridays outburst was the most show and tell of that shift.The already-tense conference blew up when Vance stressed the requirement for diplomacy to deal with the biggest dispute in Europe considering that World War Two.
Zelenskiy, his arms folded, countered that Putin could not be relied on and kept in mind that Vance had never visited Ukraine.What kind of diplomacy are you speaking about, JD? Zelenskiy asked after recounting stopped working diplomatic efforts with Russia.Im talking about the kind of diplomacy thats going to end the damage of your country, Vance shot back.Zelenskiy freely challenged Trump over his softer technique towards Putin, advising him to make no compromises with a killer.Trump, whose group stated he and Vance were standing up for Americans, quickly took to Truth Social after the meeting to implicate Zelenskiy of disrespecting the United States.I have figured out that President Zelenskyy is not ready for Peace if America is involved, he composed, using an alternative spelling of the leaders name.
He can return when he is prepared for Peace.Trump later informed reporters as he left the White House for a weekend at his Florida home that Zelenskiy requires to realise he is losing the war.What hes got to say is, I want to make peace.
He doesnt need to stand there and say Putin this, Putin that, all negative things.
Hes got to state, I want to make peace.
I do not wish to fight a war anymore, Trump said.Zelenskiy, asked throughout an interview by Fox News if his relationship with Trump could be salvaged after Fridays eruption, stated, Yes of course and appeared to express some remorse, including Im sorry for this.The Ukrainian leader conducted the meeting in his non-native English, and as it advanced he was muffled by Trump and Vance.Youre not in a great position.
You dont have the cards today.
With us, you begin having cards, Trump said.Im not playing cards, Im extremely major, Mr President, Zelenskiy said.Youre playing cards.
Youre gambling with the lives of countless individuals, youre betting with World War Three, the United States president continued.The falling-out implied that Ukraine and the United States failed to sign a much-vaunted minerals deal that Kyiv hoped would stimulate Trump to back Ukraines war effort and possibly win support from Republicans in Congress for a new round of aid.The clash also undermined efforts by European leaders to persuade Trump to offer security assurances for Ukraine even if he has refused to release United States soldiers on Ukrainian soil to preserve peace.
Such assurances are viewed as crucial to discourage Russia from future aggression.Trump instead threatened to withdraw United States assistance from Ukraine.Youre either going to negotiate, or were out, and if were out, youll battle it out.
I do not think its going to be pretty, Trump informed Zelenskiy.Trump stressed that Putin wants to make a deal.Vance likewise interjected that it was rude of Zelenskiy to come to the Oval Office to prosecute his position, a point Trump agreed with.You didnt state thank you, Vance stated.
Zelenskiy, raising his voice, reacted: I said a lot of times thank you to American people.Zelenskiy, who won billions of dollars of United States weapons and support from the Biden administration, is facing a dramatically different attitude from Trump.
Trump wishes to quickly wind down the three-year war, improve ties with Russia and recover cash spent to support Ukraine.Ukraine has rapidly broadened its defence industry production but stays heavily dependent on foreign military help, while likewise struggling to renew workforce as it fights a much bigger foe.While Ukraine pushed back Russias invasion from the outskirts of Kyiv and regained swathes of territory in 2022, Russia still controls around a fifth of Ukraine and has actually been slowly taking ground considering that a stopped working Ukrainian counteroffensive in 2023.
Kyivs troops hold a chunk of land in Russias western Kursk region after a 2024 incursion.Trump has actually engaged in a long-distance feud with Zelenskiy in current weeks, criticising his handling of the war, calling him a dictator and urging him to agree to the minerals deal.
He consequently distanced himself from the dictator remark.Source: Reuters-- Agencies