President Donald Trump reportedly expressed strong dissatisfaction with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky following a contentious meeting in the Oval Office.
The nearly hour-long discussion derailed in its final ten minutes, leading to an abrupt end.
Speaking to reporters before boarding Marine One, President Trump remarked that the meeting “didn’t work out exactly great,” suggesting that Zelensky “overplayed his hand.”
Trump emphasized his administration’s pursuit of peace, expressing concern that Zelensky sought deeper U.S. involvement in the ongoing conflict, which could embolden prolonged fighting.
The President highlighted the recent casualties, noting that approximately 2,000 young Ukrainians and Russians had lost their lives in the past week.
He criticized Zelensky’s negotiating position, stating that the Ukrainian leader was dealing with a “weak set of cards” and was not in a position to make substantial demands.
“I just want to get a deal done, and if the deal happens, good, but you can’t embolden somebody that does not have the cards, and all of a sudden that person says, ‘Oh, well, now I can keep fighting,’ We’re not going to keep fighting. We’re going to get the war done, or let them go and see what happens. Let them fight it out.” Trump said.
“He says he wants to come back right now, but I can’t do that. They should have an immediate ceasefire. That was the other thing he didn’t want to do, a ceasefire. A ceasefire could take place immediately. A contract, if you want to end the war, you sign up an agreement, that’s going to take a period of time. It takes time. I want it to end immediately. And I think if you had a ceasefire, it would be a ceasefire, a real one that would end it. But if he doesn’t want to do that, that’s fine.” he added.
Trump underscored his primary objective of halting the ongoing loss of life, advocating for an immediate ceasefire.
He indicated that Zelensky’s reluctance to agree to a ceasefire was a significant point of contention during their discussion.
The President made it clear that any future meetings with Zelensky would be contingent upon his genuine commitment to peace and a willingness to avoid further escalation of the conflict.
The abrupt conclusion of the meeting underscores the complexities in U.S.-Ukraine relations, particularly concerning strategies to achieve peace in the region.
The international community continues to monitor these developments, recognizing their potential impact on the broader geopolitical landscape.
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