Volodymyr Zelensky mentioned Friday that his relations with the United States can nonetheless be repaired, after President Donald Trump shouted at him in an offended White House meltdown accusing the Ukrainian chief of refusing to make peace with Russia.
“Of course,” Zelensky mentioned when requested in a Fox News interview if the relationship with Trump may very well be salvaged.
US-Ukrainian ties are about “more than two presidents,” he mentioned, including that Ukraine badly wants Washington’s assist in the combat towards Russia’s far greater and better-armed navy.
“It will be difficult without your support,” Zelensky mentioned on Fox — Trump’s favourite news channel.
Zelensky’s olive department got here hours after the extraordinary Oval Office scene the place the years-long US coverage of large help for Ukraine’s combat towards the Russian invasion collapsed in a shouting match.
The row noticed European leaders scramble to voice help for Ukraine after Zelensky was made to go away the White House early and with out signing a minerals-sharing deal seen as very important to an eventual US-brokered truce.
During the conflict, performed out in entrance of US and worldwide media, Trump and Vice President JD Vance shouted at Zelensky, accusing him of not being “thankful” and refusing to simply accept their proposed truce phrases.
“You don’t have the cards right now,” Trump mentioned. “You’re either going to make a deal or we’re out, and if we’re out, you’ll fight it out and I don’t think it’s going to be pretty.”
Zelensky departed shortly after, with Trump posting on social media that “he can come back when he is ready for peace.”
“They were asked to leave the room. Then they had to be asked to leave the building,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who had been within the Oval Office for the row, advised Fox News of the Ukrainians.
The president advised journalists later Friday that Zelensky was “overplaying his hand” and will agree to finish preventing “immediately.”
Zelensky, nevertheless, refused to apologize, telling Fox News, “I’m not sure that we did something bad.” He did, nevertheless, say he wished the change had not taken place in entrance of reporters.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio afterward CNN referred to as for Zelensky to “apologize for wasting our time.”
– ‘NOT ALONE’ –
US allies in Europe — already fearful that Trump will power Ukraine to successfully hand victory to Russian President Vladimir Putin — rushed to again Zelensky.
“You are not alone,” Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk mentioned.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, recent off his personal go to to the White House, mentioned he had spoken to each Trump and Zelensky by cellphone following the conflict and vowed “unwavering support” for Kyiv.
Far-right Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni referred to as for a summit “without delay” between the United States, Europe and allies on Ukraine.
Trump and Vance are “doing Putin’s dirty work,” high US Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer posted.
But Russia was delighted.
Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev referred to as Zelensky an “insolent pig” who had obtained “a proper slap down in the Oval Office.”
Trump’s Republican Party echoed the Russians in blaming Zelensky.
Ukraine appeared united behind Zelensky, with its military chief vowing to face with him whereas the international minister praised his “bravery.”
“He did what he must,” 26-year-old Valentyn Burianov advised AFP in Kyiv, echoing others within the streets of the Ukrainian capital.
– COMPROMISE WITH ‘KILLER’? –
The meltdown got here after Trump mentioned Ukraine should make “compromises” in a truce with Russia.
Zelensky mentioned there must be “no compromises with a killer on our territory.”
After he identified that earlier Western-backed peace efforts had failed to discourage Russian aggression, Vance interrupted and referred to as him “disrespectful.”
The session then boiled over, with the Ukrainian chief sitting in evident discomfort as Trump and Vance berated him.
Trump has alarmed Kyiv and European allies together with his abrupt U-turn in US coverage, casting himself as a mediator between Putin and Zelensky and refusing to sentence the Russian invasion.
He mentioned within the Oval Office that he had “spoken on numerous occasions” to Putin — greater than has been publicly reported.
Trump referred to as Zelensky a “dictator” final week and has mentioned he trusts Putin to “keep his word” over a ceasefire.
He advised Zelensky that as a mediator he couldn’t criticize one of many foremost sides.
However, talking to Fox News, Zelensky mentioned he wished Trump was “really more on our side.”
Meanwhile, Russia’s assault on Ukraine continued.
Russian infantry have been on Friday storming the Ukrainian border from the Russian area of Kursk, Kyiv mentioned.
Source: www.anews.com.tr