A meeting at the White House between President Trump and Ukrainian President Zelensky became heated. Trump told Zelensky to "Make a deal or we're out" and said Zelensky should be "thankful" for US support. Trump also claimed Zelensky was "gambling with World War Three."
Zelensky wants peace with Russia, but Trump stressed that Ukraine must make concessions. This talk happened just a week after Zelensky said Trump was "living in a disinformation space" created by Russia, and Trump had called Zelensky a "dictator" - a comment he later seemed to back away from.
During their Oval Office exchange, Trump urged Zelensky to accept a ceasefire right away to "stop the bullets flying." When Zelensky said he wanted a ceasefire with "guarantees," Trump cut him off, saying Zelensky claimed he didn't want a ceasefire.
Trump told Zelensky it was "very good for the American people to see what's going on" and repeated that Zelensky "has to be thankful." When Zelensky said he was "very thankful," Trump raised his voice: "People are dying, you're running low on soldiers."
Trump continued telling Zelensky, "Your country is in big trouble." When Zelensky tried to speak, Trump waved his hands, saying, "No, no, you've done a lot of talking." Trump added, "You're not winning this. You have a damn good chance of coming out OK because of us."
The US president claimed America gave Ukraine "$350bn" under "this stupid president" Biden, plus military equipment without which "this war would have been over in two weeks." Zelensky responded that Putin told him it would have been "three days."
Trump pointed his finger at Zelensky, accusing him of being "disrespectful to the country that's backed you far more than a lot of people said they should have." Vice President Vance jumped in, asking if Zelensky had said "thank you" during the meeting and mentioning that Zelensky "went to Pennsylvania and campaigned for the opposition in October."
When Zelensky asked if Vance had visited Ukraine "to see our problems," Vance said he had read about it. Zelensky shook his head and said the US would eventually feel the war's effects. Trump cut in: "Don't tell us what we're going to feel. You're in no position to dictate what we're going to feel."
Trump stated he wasn't aligned with either Russia or Ukraine but with "the United States of America." He noted Zelensky has "tremendous hate" for Putin, and "the other side" isn't "exactly in love" with Zelensky either. Trump warned, "You want me to be tough; I can be tougher than any human being you've ever seen... but you're never going to get a deal that way."
Zelensky wants peace with Russia, but Trump stressed that Ukraine must make concessions. This talk happened just a week after Zelensky said Trump was "living in a disinformation space" created by Russia, and Trump had called Zelensky a "dictator" - a comment he later seemed to back away from.
During their Oval Office exchange, Trump urged Zelensky to accept a ceasefire right away to "stop the bullets flying." When Zelensky said he wanted a ceasefire with "guarantees," Trump cut him off, saying Zelensky claimed he didn't want a ceasefire.
Trump told Zelensky it was "very good for the American people to see what's going on" and repeated that Zelensky "has to be thankful." When Zelensky said he was "very thankful," Trump raised his voice: "People are dying, you're running low on soldiers."
Trump continued telling Zelensky, "Your country is in big trouble." When Zelensky tried to speak, Trump waved his hands, saying, "No, no, you've done a lot of talking." Trump added, "You're not winning this. You have a damn good chance of coming out OK because of us."
The US president claimed America gave Ukraine "$350bn" under "this stupid president" Biden, plus military equipment without which "this war would have been over in two weeks." Zelensky responded that Putin told him it would have been "three days."
Trump pointed his finger at Zelensky, accusing him of being "disrespectful to the country that's backed you far more than a lot of people said they should have." Vice President Vance jumped in, asking if Zelensky had said "thank you" during the meeting and mentioning that Zelensky "went to Pennsylvania and campaigned for the opposition in October."
When Zelensky asked if Vance had visited Ukraine "to see our problems," Vance said he had read about it. Zelensky shook his head and said the US would eventually feel the war's effects. Trump cut in: "Don't tell us what we're going to feel. You're in no position to dictate what we're going to feel."
Trump stated he wasn't aligned with either Russia or Ukraine but with "the United States of America." He noted Zelensky has "tremendous hate" for Putin, and "the other side" isn't "exactly in love" with Zelensky either. Trump warned, "You want me to be tough; I can be tougher than any human being you've ever seen... but you're never going to get a deal that way."
