White House talks break down as Trump accuses Zelenskyy of ‘disrespecting’ US
White House talks between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy over ending the war between Moscow and Kyiv have broken down after the US president said his Ukrainian counterpart had “disrespected” America.
The dramatic and premature conclusion to the summit came after the two leaders clashed even before the start of their formal meeting, as the Ukrainian president’s bid to improve strained ties with Washington spectacularly backfired.
In a post on Truth Social following the meeting, Trump wrote: “I have determined that President Zelenskyy is not ready for Peace.”
“He disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office. He can come back when he is ready for Peace,” he added.
During an earlier meeting in front of reporters in the Oval Office, Trump told Zelenskyy: “You don’t have the cards right now with us, you start having problems right now. You’re gambling with the lives of millions of people. You’re gambling with world war three.”
Vice-president JD Vance said: “Do you think that it’s respectful to come to the Oval Office of the United States of America and attack the administration that is trying to prevent the destruction of your country?”
The Ukrainian leader responded: “Everybody has problems, even you but you have nice ocean and don’t feel [it] now, but you will feel it in the future.”
Zelenskyy has been seeking a seat at the negotiating table after Trump blindsided Kyiv and other European capitals by launching direct talks with Putin over ending the conflict.
The leaders had planned to use the meeting to sign a minerals deal that would set up a joint US-Ukrainian “investment fund” that would receive 50 per cent of all revenues from the “future monetisation” of natural resources owned by Kyiv.
A lovely little display for Russian state media to play out tonight. “Look at the west fighting themselves, soon the war will be over!”
Look at the part where he says it’s “disrespectful to THIS country”. I think he had to catch himself there to stop him saying it’s disrespectful to someone else. Like anyone involved in the mob, you invoke the name of your boss and let them know he’s unhappy when you are trying to intimidate someone.
I watched this train wreck. Didn’t try to transcribe, so I might have small errors. Essence first, emotions later.
Trump:
- claims (falsely) that previous presidents didn’t help Ukraine
- contradicts oneself, claiming that Biden was too hardline on Russia
- claims that Obama didn’t give any military assistance to Ukraine (but Obama did)
- claims that he gave Javelin ATGMs to Ukraine (could be true, as Trump did try to blackmail Zelensky with 0.4 billions worth of military aid, while Biden didn’t try to blackmail with 60 billions - it’s almost certain that Biden gave a thousand times more Javelins and other useful systems)
- claims that the words of a US president aren’t worth so much as to deter Russia
- again mis-states the volume of US economic and military assistance to Ukraine as 380 billion or something
- says that Zelensky needs to be thankful and is being disrespectful
- behaves disrespectfully, claiming Zelensky is not allowed to speak, continues ranting
- claims that Ukraine “hasn’t got the cards” and is going to lose
- claims that Zelensky is “gambling with World War 3” (note: Ukraine is defending itself)
Zelensky:
- doesn’t get to speak as Trump rants
- manages to say that he is thankful to the US
- says that he already had a ceasefire with Putin, which he personally signed in 2019 with Merkel and Macron also present, and Putin broke the ceasefire
- says he wants a ceasefire with guarantees
- says that Ukraine isn’t going to lose
Vance:
- says Zelensky isn’t thankful enough in this room here and now
Opinion:
A carefully orchestrated verbal agression by Trump and Vance. Zelensky was not given opportunity to present his point of view, which is very rare in diplomacy (this probably isn’t diplomacy). He’s in the damn White House, he’s not going to shout.
Result:
Zelensky walked away without signing the mineral resources treaty. Fully understandable for bystanders. Foreseeable by Trump - perhaps the goal of this tirade.
I like that you think Trump and Babs could carefully coordinate anything, they just shouted him down.
Good writeup but I really want to emphasize this:
claims that Zelensky is “gambling with World War 3” (note: Ukraine is defending itself)
That likely is going to be the angle putin wants pushed and it has been there from the start. Many people won’t remember, but in the days before the war started there were plenty of voices (on both sides) insisting that nobody should help Ukraine because it might cause WW3. Same with the calls for a no fly zone in the following weeks.
It wasn’t explicitly said (by anyone but the most compromised of republicans and tankies…), but it was very heavily implied that Ukraine needed to die so that “we” didn’t have WW3. And I fully expect those to ramp up from all sides because…
the US doesn’t want to help Ukraine because putin doesn’t want us to.
And Europe is going to be consolidating forces and getting ready for the next invasions on EU territory.
The World War 3 comment is all on Trump. He is the one who said it and he is the one using it as a threat in a “negotiation”.
He (probably) won’t start it himself, but he just gave Putin the green light to do so.
NATO without USA can still kick Russias ass if they decide to attack other European countries, but if China gets involved, then USA will have to come out from the corner that Trump just painted USA into.
If I heard right trump said at one point he didn’t know what was going on with the whole ukraine war situation.
I don’t believe he would utter such truth.
Fucking hate this shit. Couldn’t watch it. I’m a Ukrainian living in the US.
Brings me some comfort to see many people on here agree that Trump is a fucking jackass.
I would go to some online forum for support, but I’m afraid of encountering some aggressive jackasses, saying something to the extent of “fuck Ukraine. We have our own problems.”
If someone has any words of support or something positive to say, I’m here for it, because this is depressing.
I’m sorry. There’s a lot of us that agree with you and are disgusted by this. This was hard to watch - I’ve never seen a US president act so childish when given the opportunity to oppose an ACTUAL dictator.
Any true American knows that Putin is a threat to the world and democracy. He won’t just stop with Ukraine.
Trump and Vance are cowards in the face of real evil.
I figured that I must not be the only one who thought that Trump’s behavior was disguisting. Thank you for reminding that you feel the same. It’s just that with all these loud dumbasses who think that it’s not their war to fight makes me wonder if people remember how WWII started. I really do hope that most of the world is sane though.
Yes, you’re not alone. It’s unfortunate, but the idiots speak louder than the sane ones. I hope that this being posted everywhere does actually get people thinking in the right kind of way…
Zelenskyy is correct. We will see problems here eventually if these fools don’t step in. It just won’t be until this idiot is out of office.
I really do try to remain calm and remind myself that the idiots tend to be louder. People don’t realize that they’re not isolated and this will effect them too eventually.
These idiots will never know what it’s like to be on the receiving end of a very unjust war. They’re just worried about their gas prices.
My mother is a very sweet, kind-hearted woman who taught me to lead with empathy, to always try to find common humanity with people I think are wrong. She was so upset by Trump and Vance over this that she said she hopes these “evil mother fuckers burn in hell.”
Her words and my words are meager, but please know you’re not alone. I don’t know what’s next, but I hope we can find the path together.
Your mom is awesome and so are you!
I checked over at /r/conservative and was surprised that even the majority there seemed to be ashamed by what happened. Though there were some of the blowhards you describe too.
Well I’m glad that it at least backfired somewhat. Although I thought that his supporters liked it when he’s being a bully.
In truth though, I feel like America has never looked this weak.
“I heard it from Putin.”
That’s really what was going on there.
Brit here. Слава України! Ви любов вас. Моя сімʼя і Я надія that you prevail.
You have a beautiful country and people. Don’t lose hope. I hope that Europe and the UK find a solution that gives Ukraine the edge to push them back.
I’ve wanted us (fwiw) to put boots on the ground in UKR for a long time despite Putin’s threats. Pretty sure the Polish do too.
Все нас любов. Excuse the crap learner Ukrainian.
Thank you for the kind words. I really hope that other countries won’t have a to put their boots on the ground. This war is bloody enough. I just really hope that Ukraine will finally get enough weapons already. But I really appreciate your words.
Heroyam slava!
Тримайся друже, поховали тих, переживемо і цих.
I had to donate to United24, because, what else can I do?
That is awesome of you. Thank you.
Does anyone know if they still take BTC?
I’d like to donate my wallet, but I don’t see that option on the site and the posts about BTC donations are a couple years old.
It’s a somewhat substantial amount and I want to make sure that it’s still an active wallet and not abandoned or wasted.
Just a guy from the UK here. But this was horrific to watch, I felt for him and all Ukrainians. We stand with you. We will fight with you. We support you. My family fought in WW2 because it was the right thing to do, not because there was money in it or because we were next, but because it was right. We will do it again if necessary.
This means so much to me just to know that there are people who feel this way. Can’t tolerate all the negativity towards Ukraine anymore. Some people don’t know what they’re talking about, but just like being angry about shit. But my relatives are there! So yea, Thank you from the bottom of my heart for these words!
Man, this must really fucking suck for you, I’m sorry. I can only imagine how Zelenskyy feels leaving that room, I feel really bad.
Kind words are not going to work any more. Americans need to get their house in order. If the majority of American should have voted against Cheeto and this wouldn’t be happening. That didn’t happen so now you need to protest, get out there and show Elmo and Trump that this isn’t what you want. Force him to step down and get someone else in, this is nuts.
Thank you so much for the kind words. I doubt this mofo will step down. Plus, I feel like he has so many supporters who think in the lines of “aMeRiCa fIrsT”. I genuinely hope these people are just a loud minority.
I’m not American, or in the US but there needs to be something you guys can do. Its insane what’s going on there.
Just know that (most of) the rest of the world is behind you when you’re out there protesting for a change! <3
Thank you!
It just pisses me off that degenerates like the Cheeto man try to frame Zelensky not willing to surrender as him not wanting to ”peace” because the people who have no idea believe this.
I hate seeing jackasses like Musk and Trump in power. I hate hearing people who have no stakes in the war spew out negative BS about Ukraine just for the fuck of it, giving zero shits about how it may affect the people who actually care.
I appreciate all the kind words from people. It’s just hard not to fall into depression seeing all of this.
It was always going to be like this. It’s why so many of us vahemently fought (and are still fighting) against him in the US.
Trump is a traitor to his country.
I had to fight the urge to pop that cunt in the nose through my phone the entire time and I’m a non violent rational taoist. I havnt felt like that since before I was 20.
If he is ever in Australia, I will be taking the opportunity to clock him in the jaw or at least throw a shoe.
Edit: I should add, some of us down under have a knack for getting past security lines/security is very lax here even when world leaders are here. Look up what ‘The Chaser’ did when APEC or whatever it was called was here years ago. Or the bloke telling the pm to get off his front yard, or the bloke who head butt the previous pm.
Krasnov gonna krasnov.
He disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office
That sounds like pure projection to me, isn’t it unsurprising that anything he thinks he’s calling out other people on is about himself?
I honestly think, were they here today, everyone who penned the Declaration would consider this douchebag’s shoe prints to be more a desecration to the office than if King George III waltzed in and took a dump on the desk.
That sounds like pure projection to me.
This republican rhetoric is shockingly smoothbrained isn’t it? Their entire propaganda strategy is to blame everyone else for distasteful things they’re literally in the middle of commiting themselves.
This 2 idiots ganged up on him
This seriously felt like being yelled at and talked down to by tryhard managers at some shitty retail job.
They just bust right out the gate with rambling, they’re so upset, they demand respect, you need to apologize, you should be grateful, followed by 50 rapidfire questions so they can say “SEE. I’M RIGHT BECAUSE YOU STRUGGLED TO ANSWER.” blah blah blah.
Treating a part-time employee like that should get your teeth kicked in. Treating a world leader like that?! MAN.
Kinda surreal to hear a president say unironically, Hunter Biden, Joe Biden, Hillary Clknton, Obama in quick succession with no actual thought.
He’s just firing off the residents living rent-free in his dome. My god, that dude has a thing for Hunter Biden.
Because Hunter is packing 🍆
“Bing bing bong bong bing bing.”
The weave, everybody!
This is shameful!
It was always going to end like this, Krasnov is operating to procedure.
The orange clown was cranky. Clearly he needed to go to sleep. I don’t understand why they are so angry at Zelensky. Right? They should be like riding the freedom wave with Zelensky… “Proving” to everyone how good the Republicans are. Instead they are arguing or whatever the fuck their mouth noises were about. It was fucking funny. Like watching the Koreans fight it out in Congress. The Mexicans literally have never had a shit show like that since Zedillo. Even then there was not much of a shit show.
Yeah, we’re sooo fucked. I’d pull out all and any investment I still have anywhere in the US. Monday is gonna be a black stock dropping Monday.
It’s up to you now, Europe.
If only it were just that simple. Now, whenever there is an election here, we gotta deal with russian, Chinese and US state interference…
You can’t keep playing defense forever
Do we have realtime cameras watching from space ? In case someone still plays with lead soldiers and paper planes …
Fucking hell, what a bunch of clowns this administration is.
Guess it’s just a matter of time now before Putin says fuck it and goes all out on land grabs. Clearly these dipshits never bothered to educate themselves on the escalation of WW2….
Since when did you need to be thanked for doing the rift thing?
I just watched the last half of the full meeting. Zelensky asked what guarantees there are the Russians won’t just invade again. The subtext of which is an offer to house US troops in Ukraine. But all the fucking clown car heard was a challenge to their machismo.
So they shouted him down and just loudly asserted he would either sign their deal or fight it out. Along the way they manage to insult him by treating him like a child and pretending that previous broken agreements, (invasion of Crimea, Invasion of Donetsk, and Invasion of Ukraine) were because Putin didn’t respect the American President enough. But Putin is also the victim in all of this according to Trump.
I’ve seen better diplomacy from a high school football team.
For more subtext, if there were any real guarantees then this would not have happened in the meeting with the press. Zelensky would have told reporters there were guarantees. This entire blow up means that Trump already told him there would be no guarantees other than the honor system. Which, even if Trump is right, (Putin respects Trump and won’t invade while he’s president), Zelensky knows that means Putin will invade again in 2028 after Trump’s term is over. And that’s without getting into all of the implications about Putin holding this over Trump’s head for concessions so Trump can appear to be the peacemaker.
I agree with Trump on one thing. We’re fucking around with World War 3, but Trump isn’t a peacemaker, he’s Chamberlain. Right down to berating the leaders who are asking for help to stop the aggressive country.
’ The art of the deal’
Haven’t read it but here’s my guess as to its contents:
Chapter 1: “Repeat yourself and rant and scream and claim how offended you are from an (imagined) mighty position of power while demanding more respect and groveling.”
Chapter 2: “Keep repeating your demands to warp reality like some Jedi mind trick until your opponent is so psychologically worn down from your broken record-like diatribe increasing in volume, they give in.”
Chapter 3: “If they finish a sentence, you’ve already lost”
The rest of the book is blank.
Haven’t read
Neither has Trump.
His ghostwriter did his best with the limited information Trump gave him to work with.
