Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky remains hopeful that he can save his relationship with Donald Trump after a meeting aimed to cement a US-Ukraine mineraler who fell to members of the Republican Administration who famous the visitor leader in front of news cameras.
“Yes, of course,” Zelensky said in an interview with Fox News on Friday, and proclaimed the ties between the people of America and Ukraine. “It’s more than two presidents. The historical conditions, strong conditions, between our people. “
“This is the most important thing – and of course [we’re] Thank you for the president and to Congress – but first and foremost for your people, ”Zelensky continued. “Your people helped save our people.”
Zelensky gets his job carved for him.
After the blowing of the Oval Office, when Zelensky reminded his hosts of the many times Russia have broken a ceasefire offer that did not include security guarantees, Trump raised doubts about the future of the mineral agreement.
Told an official in the White House The independent That the mineral agreement was not signed on Friday and Trump later accused Zelensky of being disinterested in seeking a general peace.
“I would say that it did not work exactly well from his point of view. He spoke a lot of hand, ”Trump said after the meeting. “We are looking for peace. We are not looking for anyone who wants to sign up for a strong power and then do not make peace because they feel Emboldened, and that is what I was happening to. “
During both the White House -Meeting and his subsequent Fox News interview, Zelensky claimed that some form of security guarantee from the US or European nations would be a key factor to reach a genuine end to the war, considering many times Russia has violated previous agreements to end the conflict in the absence of such protection.
“Everyone is afraid of Putin coming back tomorrow,” Zelensky told Anchor Brett Baier and added, “it’s about bare and lasting peace. We need to be very strong at the table with negotiations. “
The Ukrainian leader claims that security guarantees could come in the form of a European quota of troops stationed in Ukraine, or further indications that the United States are proactively sitting with Ukraine in the conflict.
It was this line of discussion that presented Trump and Vice President JD Vance during the White House meeting.
“I think it’s disrespectful for you to come to the oval office to try to litigation this in front of the US media,” an incensited vice president Vancce told Zelensky during the conversations.
Trump -officials continued to smoke after the meeting. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt described Zelensky as “rude” and “antagonistic” to American goodwill.
The amazing diplomatic collapse follows growing agitation in the US -Ukraine relationship.
In recent weeks, Trump has put a considerable distance between himself and Zelensky and accused the Ukrainian of being a dictator and false claim that he started the war with Putin, while the White House sidelined Ukraine and has pursued direct negotiations with Russia.
Zelensky, for his Friday, suggested in the FOX interview that the United States appeared to switch from an ally of Ukraine to a more neutral attitude towards the conflict.
“I want him to be more by our side,” the Ukrainian said of Trump, though he admitted that when it comes to ironing questions in their partnership, “maybe sometimes some things we have to discuss from the media.”
On Friday, the fall continued beyond just the White House.
Senator Lindsey Graham, one of Ukraine’s most vocal supporters with GOP, suggested after the meeting that Zelensky “either needs to resign and send someone over with whom we can do business, or he has to change us.”
Top Democrats, meanwhile, criticized Trump administration.
“What just happened in the Oval Office was a planned back team, designed to help a brutal Russian dictator and harm America’s security,” Senator Chris Murphy wrote at X. “Trump has become Putin’s lapdog, and America’s global power inhibits America sides with dictators of democracy. What embarrassment. “
Andrew Feinberg contributed reporting to this story.