Washington, DC [US], March 1 (HBTV): Former US President Donald Trump accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of ‘disrespecting America’ in a post on Truth Social, minutes after a contentious meeting between the two leaders in the Oval Office.
‘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,’ Trump wrote.
The two leaders had been scheduled to hold a joint press conference at 1 p.m. following the signing of a framework mineral agreement, but the event was abruptly cancelled after a heated exchange involving Trump, Zelenskyy, and US Vice President JD Vance. The altercation, witnessed by White House officials, members of the media, and Ukrainian delegates, disrupted the planned proceedings.
Shortly after Trump's statement, the White House press pool confirmed that the press conference had been cancelled. A visibly grim-faced Zelenskyy left the West Wing two hours and 20 minutes after his arrival.
The meeting initially began with cordial exchanges and handshakes, with Trump at one point describing Zelenskyy as ‘a great guy.’ However, tensions escalated when Zelenskyy attempted to explain Russian President Vladimir Putin’s diplomatic stance to Vice President Vance in front of live cameras. Vance accused Zelenskyy of ‘litigating’ the matter in public, criticized him for appearing in campaign photo-ops with Democrats during the 2024 election, and called his remarks ‘disrespectful’ to the administration.
Trump, raising his voice, echoed Vance’s sentiments, telling Zelenskyy that he should be expressing gratitude to the US. ‘You don’t have the cards,’ Trump told Zelenskyy. ‘You are either going to make a deal or we’re out, and if we are out, you will fight it out. I don’t think it’s going to be pretty.’
The meeting was originally intended to finalize a deal establishing a joint US-Ukraine fund for investing in Ukraine’s rare-earth mineral extraction. These minerals are crucial for the production of various high-tech products. However, Friday’s confrontation overshadowed the negotiations, leaving the future of the agreement uncertain.
(ANI)