JAKARTA - The meeting of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy with US President Donald Trump ended in a "disaster" on Friday, February 28 local time.
Zelenskyy left the White House without signing a mineral deal or a joint press conference originally scheduled.
The two presidents, including US Vice President JD Vance, were hot before world media at the White House about the war with Russia.
Zelenskyy considers the meeting in the Oval Room an opportunity to convince the United States not to side with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who ordered an invasion of Ukraine three years ago.
In contrast, US President Trump and Vice President JD Vance attacked Zelenskyyy, saying he showed disrespect, thus making relations with Kyiv's most important ally during the war at its lowest point. The Ukrainian leader was told to leave, a US official said.
The agreement between Ukraine and the United States to jointly develop the rich natural resources of Ukraine, which Kyiv and its allies in Europe hope will result in better, unsigned and uncertain ties.
European leaders immediately defended Zelenskiy. German chancellor Friedrich Merz said, "we must not be confused between aggressors and victims in this terrible war."
Zelenskyy spoke by telephone with French President Emmanuel Macron, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte and EU Council President Antonio Costa, an official at the Ukrainian delegation in Washington told Reuters.
Britain will host a meeting of European leaders and Zelenskyy on Sunday to discuss security barriers to the peace agreement between Moscow and Kyiv.
Trump has warmed American relations with Russia since taking over from the presidency, surprising his old allies in Europe and other countries, and making Ukraine even more vulnerable.
The heated debate that occurred on Friday was the most common appearance of the change.
The tense encounter exploded when Vance stressed the need for diplomacy to resolve the biggest conflict in Europe since the Second World War. Zelenskyy, folding his hand, replied that Putin could not be trusted and noted that Vance had never visited Ukraine.
What kind of diplomacy are you talking about, JD? Zelenskyy asked after telling about the diplomatic attempt that failed with Russia.
"I'm talking about the type of diplomacy that will end the destruction of your country," Vance replied.
Zelenskyy publicly challenged Trump for his gentler approach to Putin, and urged him not to compromise with a murderer."
Trump, after the meeting, quickly uploaded a post on Truth Social accusing Zelenskiy of disrespecting the United States.
"I have decided that President Zelenskyy is not ready for Peace if America is involved," he wrote, using an alternative spelling for the leader's name. He can come back when he is ready for Peace
The English, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, and French versions are automatically generated by the AI. So there may still be inaccuracies in translating, please always see Indonesian as our main language. (system supported by DigitalSiber.id)
