Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has given his first reaction after a tense discussion with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House. The meeting took place on Friday, February 28, and became heated when the topic of the Russia-Ukraine war ceasefire was raised.
During the meeting in the Oval Office, Trump and Vice President JD Vance accused Zelensky of not showing them enough respect. This led to a sharp exchange of words between the leaders.
Zelensky’s Statement After the Discussion
After the meeting, Zelensky spoke to Fox News and shared his thoughts. He said, “Of course, relations between both countries can be fixed.” He emphasized that Ukraine does not want to lose its partnership with the United States. Zelensky also expressed hope that Trump would show more support for Ukraine after their heated discussion.
According to an Associated Press (AP) report, Zelensky stated that Ukraine would not enter peace talks with Russia unless it received security guarantees to prevent another invasion.
“Not a Good Discussion”
Zelensky admitted that the argument with Trump was not beneficial for either side. He believes that Trump needs to understand that Ukraine cannot change its stance toward Russia overnight.
As a result of this dispute, relations between the U.S. and Ukraine have reached their lowest point. A U.S. official told Reuters that Zelensky was asked to leave the country after the tense exchange.
Notably, the disagreement between the two leaders started just minutes after their Oval Office meeting began. Trump reportedly told Zelensky in a firm tone, “Either make a deal, or we are out.”
