A ugly and unprecedented confrontation in the Oval Office faced hostility to Donald Trump towards Ukraine and its president, as well as his continuous approach to the Russian authoritarian ruler.
With the outbreak of television cameras, Trump and Vice President JD Vance reprimanded Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the democratically elected leader of a country that has been attacked by Russia since 2014, describing him as “unresolved”, “unresolved”, and “gambling with millions of lives”.
The lecture left no doubt that Trump believes that Ukraine is just one of the two parties in negotiating, and not as a democratic American ally with the invading force of a neighbor who is much larger than tyranny, Russia.
It also seems to show the unbalanced Trump negotiation tactics, calling on the weakest side – Kiev – to make concessions instead of trying to pressure Moscow in a compromise.
The extraordinary scene left the Ukraine ambassador to the United States, Oksana Marcarova, who was in the room, holding her head in her hands – a viral image.
Former American presidents had many tense exchanges with allies, but often unilaterally, and they never like this.
What made this different was not only that it revealed the cameras, but it included an American president standing alongside a tyrannical and long opponent, Russia, against the emerging democracy that has struggled for years to separate from the orbit of Moscow and join the NATO Alliance for Western Democrats.
For decades, the presidents from both parties adopted the idea that supporting democratic countries has served America’s interests and reflected their values. American foreign policy viewed democratic countries as better allies and better commercial partners, which helps to enhance stability and free flow of trade.
But it seems that Trump and the Republican Party, which it turned, have rejected an American consensus for decades.
For Trump, Russia seems to be a strong country that the United States can agree, and Ukraine is a less powerful country that does not necessarily contain a seat on the table or sympathetic ear in the White House. Democracy does not seem to be the equation of this president.
Party Gulf
After spreading tense exchange, Republicans in Congress Trump praised a uniform to attack the leader of Ukraine. “Thank you for defending our country and putting America first, President Trump and Vice President Vance!” Senator Mike Lee (R- Posted on X.
Senator Jim Banks (R-IND) suggested that the Ukrainian leader was spoiled. “Zelensky is expected to move and escalate another war forever – with the president’s lack of respect,” he said in a statement.
A handful of Republicans blamed Putin for the conflict. “Some want to whiten the truth, but we cannot ignore the truth. Russia is wrong in this war.” The deputy said without Bacon (R-Neb.).
Democrats called on Trump’s behavior a betrayal of democracy and an ally. Senator Jacques Red of Rod Island, Democrat at the Senate Armed Services Committee, condemned Trump’s treatment of Zelinski as a “political ambush” played in the hands of Putin.
“President Zellinski and the people of Ukraine are fighting for their lives and existence,” Reid said in a statement. “The irony of Ukraine and our allies is a farce that only Putin.”
Senator Bernie Sanders criticized Fairmont Trump in A. After x. “Sorry, President Trump. We believe in democracy, not tyranny.”
“I never thought that the US President would choose a Russian dictator on a democratic ally,” said Catherine Clark of Massachusetts.
Throughout Europe, political leaders announced strong support for Zelenskyy and his country, pledged to stand by Ukraine – without mentioning Trump.
“There is a aggressor: Russia. There is a victim: Ukraine … they are fighting for their dignity, independence, children and the security of Europe,” said French President Emmanuel Macron.
“We must never confuse the aggressor and the victim in this terrible war,” said Fredrich Mirz, the next adviser in Germany based on the results of the recent elections in the country.
Ursula von der Lin, President of the European Commission, praised Zelinski In a post on x. “Your dignity honors the courage of the Ukrainian people. Be strong, brave, be without fear. I wrote,” You are never alone. “We will continue to work with you for a just and lasting peace.”
Putin or Zelinski confidence
The meeting in the Oval Office began routinely, as President Trump said it was an “honor” that Zelenskyy was in the White House and the two will sign an agreement that would give the United States a class in mineral wealth in Ukraine.
But the gap between the two leaders became clear when the reporters asked about the details of the potential ceasefire and if the United States was ready to provide security guarantees to Ukraine.
Trump rejected the idea that it is not relevant.
“I don’t want to talk about security yet, because I want to get the deal,” Trump said. “Security is very easy about 2 percent of the problem. I am not worried about security. I am concerned about the completion of the deal.”
For several months, Zelinski argued that any ceasefire or the peace agreement should include security obligations from European countries and the United States to help and protect Ukraine from the aggression of more Russia. European leaders supported the position of Zelenskyy, and France and the United Kingdom indicated that they will be ready to send the forces to support the peace agreement.
Putin recorded negotiations on peace deals, the Ukrainians were not reassured. During the meeting, Zellinski recounted how Russia violated the previous ceasefire earlier in the war, before Moscow invaded on a large scale in 2022. “For this reason we will not accept (A) only the ceasefire.”
Fireworks erupted when Vice President Vice Vice -President said that former President Joe Biden had made only empty threats and that it was time to follow up diplomacy.
Zelinski, who looks angry, asked, Vans, “What kind of diplomacy,” he was referring to.
The Ukrainian President narrated how Russia’s military attack against Ukraine began more than 10 years ago in the Crimea and in the east of the country, that the world failed to stop Russia and the failure of that diplomacy. Putin said it cannot be trusted.
Vance again called: “The President is respectful. I think it is respectful to come to the Oval Office to try to litigate this in front of the American media.”
Zelinski also tried to respond, Trump reprimanded him. “What you are doing is not very respectful for the country, this country that supports you is much more than many people say they should have.”
Zelinski Trump and Fase warned that without Ukraine returning to Russia, Putin would eventually strike the eastern NATO wing in Baltic and Poland, and may attract America into a conflict.
A White House official told NBC News that Zelinski had later asked to leave. After leaving, Trump posted on the Internet, “He can return when he is ready for peace.”
In an interview with Fox News later in the day, Zelenskyy said that public quarrels in the White House are “not good” for either side. He said that the Ukrainians “just want to hear that America is next to us and that America will remain with us, not with the Russians.”
Trump depicts Ukraine
Before confronting the Oval Office, Trump’s correspondent was asked whether he was alongside Ukraine in the proposed peace negotiations with Russia or if he saw himself as a mediator “in the middle.” Trump said he was “in the middle”, in an attempt to end the war.
But Trump’s harsh words to Ukraine at the Oval Office, his recent comments that Kiev “started the war” and that Zelinski is a “dictator”, suggested that he tends to the view of Russia.
Trump expressed his sympathy for Russian autocracy. He said that Putin was victims of what he described as false allegations surrounding the 2016 elections. US intelligence officials and the Senate report concluded that Russia had tried to influence the outcome of these elections in favor of Trump and that Moscow customers had contacted the Trump campaign.
“He had to suffer from Russia’s trick,” Trump said.
In Moscow, he received the reception of coarse Zelinski at the White House.
Dmitry Medvedev, the former president of Russia and vice -president of the country’s Security Council, praised Trump for his informing Zeilinsky, “The truth is in the face for the first time” and agreed with the American President that Ukraine could ignite the Third World War.
Medvedev Zelinski described it as a “non -full pig” that “got a solid slap of swine owners.”
