Donald Trump told Volodymyr Zelensky to “come back when he is ready for peace” after a White House meeting between the two leaders descended into a shouting match. The Telegraph has more.
The two leaders were meant to have a bilateral meeting behind closed doors after their Oval Office exchange but the Ukrainian President left the White House after falling out with the US President in front of reporters.
A press conference between the two men has been cancelled.
Mr Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform: “I have determined that President Zelenskyy is not ready for Peace if America is involved, because he feels our 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.”
Tensions flared in the Oval Office after J.D. Vance, the Vice President, and Mr Trump accused Mr Zelensky of being ungrateful for US military aid.
Mr Trump told the Ukrainian President he was “gambling with World War Three” as their meeting became heated. Meanwhile, Mr Vance asked: “have you said thank you once?”
The White House has left the door open for further talks after plans to sign a minerals deal were shelved following a furious row in the Oval Office.
A senior US official told Reuters that Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky’s cancelled joint news conference could be rescheduled while the Ukrainian leader remained in Washington.
The official added that Mr Trump has not ruled out an agreement, but only after Ukraine is ready to have a constructive conversation.
Vladimir Putin is “manipulating” Donald Trump, a senior Democratic Senator has said.
Jeanne Shaheen, the minority leader on the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said: “It’s clear that Vladimir Putin is manipulating Donald Trump, and it shows what a weak position he’s in that he doesn’t understand that he’s being manipulated.
“Vladimir Putin is a murderous dictator. He is a thug who understands one thing, and that is strength. And anytime he thinks he can get the better of Donald Trump, he is going to do that.
“So, it’s unfortunate that we have a President who doesn’t understand that.”
Lindsay Graham, the Republican Senator who is amongst the party’s strongest supporters of Ukraine, said he was “devastated” by the public fall-out and suggested it may mean Volodymyr Zelensky would have to be replaced in order for US-Ukraine discussions to move forward.
“The question for me, for the Ukrainian people, I don’t know if Zelensky can ever get you where you want to go with the United States. Either he dramatically changes or you gotta get someone new.”
Worth reading in full.
Zelensky has tweeted some thanks to America:
Thank you America, thank you for your support, thank you for this visit. Thank you
@POTUS, Congress, and the American people. Ukraine needs just and lasting peace, and we are working exactly for that.
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