After his Oval Office “ambush” in which he berated Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on national television, President Donald Trump escalated his attacks on the U.S. ally by canceling a scheduled joint press conference and later declaring President Zelenskyy does not want peace. Zelenskyy did not sign the rare earth minerals deal Trump desperately sought.
While some reported the talks as ending in a “shouting match,” it appeared only President Trump and his Vice President, JD Vance, were actually shouting.
“It’s amazing what comes out through emotion,” Trump said in a statement, “and 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.”
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Trump appeared to suggest that Zelenskyy wanted to continue to defend his country against Vladimir Putin’s illegal war, because the U.S. is sufficiently supplying Ukraine with weapons. Trump repeatedly during the campaign last year insisted he would end the war in one day.
“I don’t want advantage, I want PEACE,” Trump claimed in his statement. “He disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office. He can come back when he is ready for Peace.”
Zelensky was “attacked” the Paris-based international news agency AFP reported.
“Candidate Trump said he would end this war on or before day one. Now what?” asked NBC News Senior White House Correspondent Garrett Haake, in response to Trump’s statement.
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“How dare Trump and Vance disgrace the Oval Office by using it to bully a democracy sacrificing immensely to save its people and sovereignty from a brutal aggressor,” asked Center for International Policy Vice President for Government Affair Dylan Williams. “You have disrespected and betrayed not just Ukrainians, but generations of Americans who fought for democracy.”
Karl Rove, the well-known Bush 43 senior advisor and campaign chief strategist blasted Trump.
This is why diplomacy should never be conducted in public,” Rove told Fox News. “But the only winner out of today is Vladimir Putin. This is a mistake to have it broadcast. It is a mistake for Zelenskyy to get his dander up. And it was a mistake for the president and vice president to be so public in their comments. This was not the moment that should have been televised.”
Watch the video below or at this link.
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