Ukrainian President Volodimier Zelanski stepped into the Oval office for his notorious meeting with President Donald Trump, a few hours before that, he received a blunt warning from an American senator.
According to The New York Times, South Carolina Republican Senator Lindsay Graham warned the Ukrainian leader against Trip into a warm debate, saying, “Don’t fodder.” Graham told the Times in an interview, “I said, do not argue about security agreements.”
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When the meeting began, Zelancesi expressed concern over Ukraine’s war attempt and uncertainty around American military aid. His petition for a more aggressive American engagement in the Russia-Ukraine conflict triggered an extraordinary conflict. Trump and Vice President JD Vance accused him of lack of gratitude. This was followed by an unprecedented public spat, in front of journalists and with Zelansky suddenly leaving the White House, without acquiring a mineral-sharing deal, which was expected to be widely signed.
Trump repeatedly suggested that Ukraine should interact with Moscow on a peace agreement, a situation that had worried both Zelansky and his European colleagues. When Ukrainian leaders arrived at the White House, Trump congratulated him with a comment about his general military style dress. “Oh look, you are all dressed,” Trump quipped.
During the widely shared interview, Trump, blindly disappointed, pressed Zelanceci at Ukraine’s will for Russia’s concession. Vance then joined Fry, accusing the Ukrainian leader that the US accused it of being “ungrateful” for already provided support.
Zelanski, instead of deflecting, pushed back. “What kind of diplomacy, JD?” He asked Vance, listing several unsuccessful diplomatic efforts that were before Russia’s full -scale invasion.
That exchange quickly increased. Angered by Zelansky’s direct challenge, Vance accused him of disrespecting the US President. In turn, Trump told Zelansky that he was “gambling with World War III.”
Stress reached a peak when Zelansky warned that Russian aggression was a long -term threat, including the United States. “You have a good ocean and no longer feel, but you’ll feel it in the future,” he said. This was enough for Trump. He suddenly terminated the meeting, told the press that the spectacle would make for “great television”.
Senator Graham, who initially deployed himself as a mediator, told reporters that Zelansky needs to “resign and send someone who we can trade, or change.” Other Republican leaders quickly followed the suit, either reduced the conflict or blamed Zelancesi for not showing respect to Trump.
Zelancesi, for his share, was defective. In a later interview on Fox News, he admitted that the exchange was heated, but insisted that his approach was necessary.
