Featured Image Credit: SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images
Topics: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Donald Trump, Ukraine, US News, News
Gerrard Kaonga
Topics: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Donald Trump, Ukraine, US News, News
A mic was able to capture the final moments of the spat between Trump and Zelenskyy as they butted heads in the White House.
Despite a goal of peace talks to end the Ukraine and Russian war, Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy got rather heated in front of the cameras.
Zelenskyy headed to the White House last week on February 28 and sat down with Trump and Vice President JD Vance to discuss the conflict.
However, Trump reportedly asked the Ukrainian president to leave after they had an animated argument in front of the press in the Oval Office.
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Vance argued that Zelenskyy was being disrespectful and should be thanking Trump and the US for its contributions to their war effort.
Zelenskyy retorted by asking "Have you ever been to Ukraine? Seen what problems we have? Come once."
The Ukrainian president then reflected on how 'during the war, everyone has problems' and just because they don't 'feel it now' doesn't mean they won't in 'the future'.
Trump then butts in, arguing he's 'trying to solve a problem' and saying Zelenskyy is in 'no position' to tell them 'what [they're] going to feel'.
A hot mic reportedly caught President Trump’s orders to his staff before kicking Zelenskyy out.
Trump instructed his aides to take the Ukrainian delegation to the Roosevelt room down the hall and it was here that Zelenskyy and his team were reportedly told Trump wanted them to leave.
Speaking to an aide as press left the room, Trump said: “You’re right, maybe we should [inaudible]. Let’s have a little something...
“Would you bring them to the Roosevelt Room?”
This car crash meeting is already having an impact, as Donald Trump has paused all military aid to Ukraine.
A White House official said: “The president has been clear that he is focused on peace. We need our partners to be committed to that goal as well.
"We are pausing and reviewing our aid to ensure that it is contributing to a solution.”
Zelenskyy has also issued a statement insisting that he is committed towards peace rather than an endless war.
In a statement he said: ”Ukraine is ready to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible to bring lasting peace closer. Nobody wants peace more than Ukrainians. My team and I stand ready to work under President Trump’s strong leadership to get a peace that lasts."