By. Ashoka Peiris
US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky held a meeting in the Oval Office yesterday. Media said that it has taken a very unusual and hot face.
The President of Ukraine has behaved like a person suffering from mental stress. The outside world can see that the Ukrainian leader, who has acted without a proper understanding of the current situation, has made an effort to turn towards Europe without argument.
The reason for this is that a situation has arisen in this discussion that has led to suspicion of American military aid in the future. For this very reason, the hopes of peace and their agreement is kept under a cloud.
Due to Zelensky’s behavior during the discussion, he had to leave the White House without eating lunch. However, world leaders rallied behind Zelenskiy in the hours after the conflict forced the Ukrainian leader to leave the White House early, according to the report.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer professed his “unwavering support for Ukraine” and will host Zelensky and other European leaders at a defence summit in London on Sunday, focused on Ukraine. Following the catastrophic meeting in Washington, the London summit was reportedly expanded to include more European nations and Canada’s Justin Trudeau.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Australia would stand with Ukraine “for as long as it takes, because this is the struggle of a democratic nation versus an authoritarian regime led by Vladimir Putin, who clearly has imperialistic designs, not just on Ukraine, but throughout that region”.
At the White House meeting, Trump and his vice president, J.D. Vance, repeatedly accused Zelensky of being “disrespectful” of the US and insufficiently grateful for America’s support, while Zelensky called out some of Trump’s false claims and became angered when Vance said it was time to deal diplomatically with Vladimir Putin.
After the confrontation, Trump said he had determined that Zelensky “is not ready for peace if America is involved because he feels our involvement gifted him a big advantage in negotiations”.
“I don’t want advantage, I want peace,” Trump said. “He disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office. He can come back when he is ready for peace.”
Trump later told reporters, shortly before departing for his Mar-a-Lago resort in South Florida for the weekend, that he wanted an “immediate ceasefire” between Russia and Ukraine, but he expressed doubt that Zelensky was ready to make peace.
In the lengthy and angry confrontation in the Oval Office, Trump and Vance berated Zelensky, calling him disrespectful and telling him to be grateful for America’s help.
“You’re gambling with World War III,” Trump said. “And what you’re doing is very disrespectful to the country – this country – that’s backed you far more than a lot of people said they should. You’re either going to make a deal, or we’re out, and if we’re out, you’ll fight it out. I don’t think it is going to be pretty.” Vance said.
The clash began when a reporter asked whether Trump was aligned too closely with Putin. Trump said he was not aligned with anybody, but a deal to end the war wouldn’t happen if he didn’t talk to Putin. Vance then added that “thumping our chest” had failed, and it was time to try diplomacy.
Vance responded: “I think it’s disrespectful for you to come into the Oval Office and try to litigate this in front of the American media … you should be thanking the president for trying to bring an end to this conflict.”