After the disastrous meeting between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at The Oval Office and witnessed by millions across the world, the meeting was deemed over by then.
According to multiple press reports, President Trump abruptly ended the meeting and kicked Zelensky out of the White House after he felt disrespected by his Ukrainian guest and counterpart.
Trump Admin officials who were present in the room during the uncomfortable undiplomatic exchange, also sided with the President stating that, apart from the obvious language barrier, the Ukrainian leader was rude, ungrateful and disrespectful, citing his body language, shrugging his shoulders and rolling his eyes.
The officials went on to state that President Trump felt that Zelensky wasn’t ready to negotiate peace therefore he had to leave. They further noted that he also left the door open, stating that the Ukrainian leader should return when he is ready for serious talks about peace because as of now, he believes his counterpart isn’t ready for that yet.
Reports also indicate that Zelensky was begging to stay and wasn’t ready to leave The White House despite the Minerals Deal not being signed. He wanted the talks to continue but sources say that President Trump wasn’t having any of it hence Zelensky and his team were summarily thrown out.
However, after President Trump cancelled the bilateral meeting between the Ukrainian delegation and his team, he also proceeded to cancel both the joint press conference and the lunch, forcing Zelensky and his Ukrainian delegation to leave The White House.
Zelensky and his entourage in tow were later seen walking out from the West Wing into waiting black diplomatic SUVs which then drove them away. This was a uniquely unprecedented scene where a foreign leader and delegates leave The White House without official escort as has been the standard norm.
President Trump later took to his social media and posted about the meeting:
“We had a very meaningful meeting in The White House today. Much was learned that could never be understood without conversation under such fire and pressure. It’s amazing what comes out through emotion and I have determined that President Zelensky is not ready for peace if America is involved because he feels out involvement gives him a big advantage in negotiations. I don’t want advantage, I want PEACE. He disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office. He can come back when he is ready for peace.” Truth social/@realDonaldTrump, Feb 28, 2025
What happened in The White House has clearly left the Ukrainians in an untenable position with the US but even more so, has left them in a definitely uncertain position in terms of their continuing war with Russia.
The undiplomatic tussle between the two leaders in The Oval Office which played out in television screen all over the world has divided the European nations and diplomats across the world. Right now, it is unclear what happens next in terms of the negotiations and the US-Ukraine relations.
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