The anticipated news conference, where the deal was set to be signed, was abruptly canceled. Following a brief statement issued by Trump, Zelenskyy promptly left the scene. In a social media post, Trump declared that he believed President Zelenskyy was not prepared for peace with American involvement, as he perceived it as an advantage in negotiations. Trump emphasized his desire for peace over advantage and expressed disappointment in Zelenskyy’s actions in the esteemed Oval Office. He extended an invitation for Zelenskyy to return when he was prepared for peace. Here are the key highlights from the meeting:
Trump’s Ultimatum to Zelenskyy: ‘Negotiate a Deal or We Withdraw’
Having sidelined Ukraine and Europe from the initial peace talks with Russia, Trump asserted that Ukraine currently lacks negotiation leverage. A tense exchange in the Oval Office saw Trump caution Zelenskyy about the risks of triggering a potential world conflict.
Vance Intervenes and Challenges Zelenskyy
Vance intervened to support Trump’s diplomatic strategies, critiquing Zelenskyy’s approach and urging him to acknowledge Trump’s efforts to resolve the conflict. Zelenskyy attempted to defend his actions by highlighting the challenges Ukraine faced during the war.
Zelenskyy’s Condemnation of Putin as a ‘Terrorist’
Before tensions escalated, Zelenskyy passionately appealed to Trump to take a firm stand against Putin, whom he labeled a ‘killer’ and ‘terrorist.’ The meeting reflected a significant shift in U.S. foreign policy, with Trump engaging in peace talks with Russian counterparts while maintaining a critical stance towards Zelenskyy.
The meeting concluded with unresolved tensions, leaving the future of diplomatic relations uncertain.
He’d back that he wasn’t “aligned” with Putin. “I’m not aligned with Putin. I’m not aligned with anybody. I’m aligned with the United States of America, and for the good of the world. I’m alive with the world, and I want to get this thing over with,” Trump said. But he then seemed to suggest Zelenskyy was a major obstacle in negotiations: “You see the hatred he’s got for Putin? It’s very tough for me to make a deal with that kind of hate.” Trump and Zelenskyy key takeaways: Oval Office meeting explodes into shouting match originally appeared on abcnews.go.com.
