Hours before Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met President Trump, Senator Lindsey Graham advised him, “Don’t take the bait,” warning against heated debates. During their meeting, Zelensky expressed concerns over military aid and urged for increased US engagement in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, triggering a fierce confrontation. Trump and Vice President JD Vance accused Zelensky of ingratitude, leading to an unprecedented public spat. Zelensky pushed back, questioning US diplomacy and highlighting Russia’s ongoing threat. Tensions escalated, resulting in Trump abruptly ending the meeting and Graham suggesting Zelensky resign. Despite the conflict, Zelensky remained defiant in later interviews.
New Delhi:
Just hours before Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky entered the Oval Office for his notorious meeting with President Donald Trump, he received a stern warning from a US Senator.
“Don’t take the bait,” warned South Carolina Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, advising the Ukrainian leader to avoid a heated discussion with Trump, according to the New York Times. “I told him not to engage in arguments over security agreements,” Graham recounted in an interview with the Times.
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As the meeting commenced, Zelensky expressed his worries regarding Ukraine’s war efforts and the uncertainty surrounding US military support. His call for a more robust US involvement in the Russia-Ukraine conflict sparked an exceptional confrontation. Trump and Vice President JD Vance accused him of being ungrateful. What ensued was an unprecedented public altercation, visible to journalists, culminating in Zelensky abruptly leaving the White House without securing a minerals-sharing agreement that was widely anticipated.
Trump had repeatedly suggested that Ukraine should seek a peace deal with Moscow, a stance that alarmed both Zelensky and his European partners. Upon Zelensky’s arrival at the White House, Trump remarked on his typically military-style attire, saying, “Oh look, you’re all dressed up.”
During the much-discussed interview, Trump, increasingly frustrated, questioned Zelensky on Ukraine’s readiness to make concessions to Russia. Vance then interjected, accusing the Ukrainian leader of being “ungrateful” for the support already extended by the US.
Instead of dodging, Zelensky pushed back. “What kind of diplomacy, JD?” he challenged Vance, referencing several failed diplomatic attempts prior to Russia’s full-scale invasion.
This exchange escalated quickly. Vance, incensed by Zelensky’s bold response, accused him of disrespecting the US President. Trump subsequently warned Zelensky that he was “gambling with World War III.”
Tension peaked when Zelensky cautioned that Russian aggression posed a long-term threat, even to the United States. “You have a nice ocean and may not feel it now, but you will in the future,” he stated. This prompted Trump to end the meeting abruptly, remarking to the press that the spectacle would make for “great television.”
Senator Graham, initially acting as a mediator, later told reporters that Zelensky needed to “resign and send someone we can work with, or change.” Other Republican leaders quickly echoed this sentiment, either minimizing the confrontation or placing the blame on Zelensky for not adequately respecting Trump.
Zelensky, meanwhile, remained resolute. In a subsequent Fox News interview, he acknowledged the intensity of the exchange but maintained that his approach was warranted.