Our Situation is Tough, That’s Why I Came to US: Zelenskyy on Trump’s ‘Peace & Disrespectful’ Jab Amid Oval Office Clash- wna24

Kyiv: Following his heated clash with US President Donald Trump , Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a social media post emphasised that the meeting was “crucial” for Kyiv to have Washington’s back in its war against Moscow.

“We want peace. That’s why I came to the United States, and visited President Trump. The deal on minerals is just a first step toward security guarantees and getting closer to peace. Our situation is tough, but we can’t just stop fighting and not having guarantees that Putin will not return tomorrow,” Zelensky wrote in his post on X.

In the wake of the tense exchange, Trump accused Zelensky of disrespecting the United States and claimed the Ukrainian leader wasn’t ready for peace and said he “can come back “when he is ready for peace.” Trump’s remarks on social media were a direct response to the heated moments during their Oval Office meeting.

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I have determined that President Zelensky is not ready for Peace if America is involved, because he feels our involvement gives him a big advantage in negotiations. He disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office. He can come back when he is ready for Peace,” Trump posted on Truth Social.

In contrast, Zelensky thanked his European allies on social media, acknowledging their continued support, and reaffirmed his appreciation for the help from the US government and its people. He praised the bipartisan support from Congress and reiterated his gratitude for the military and financial aid Ukraine has received.

“We are very grateful to the United States for all the support. I’m thankful to President Trump, Congress for their bipartisan support, and American people. Ukrainians have always appreciated this support, especially during these three years of full-scale invasion. America’s help has been vital in helping us survive, and I want to acknowledge that. Despite the tough dialogue, we remain strategic partners. But we need to be honest and direct with each other to truly understand our shared goal,” he said.

While acknowledging the challenging relationship with Trump, Zelensky emphasized that the road to peace must be built on security guarantees, with a ceasefire being inadequate in the face of repeated Russian violations. He remained firm on Ukraine’s stance, stating that Russia is the enemy and that peace can only be achieved with a lasting, just resolution.

“I cannot change Ukraine’s position on Russia. The Russians are killing us. Russia is the enemy, and that’s the reality we face. Ukraine wants peace, but it must be a just and lasting peace. For that, we need to be strong at the negotiation table. Peace can only come when we know we have security guarantees, when our army is strong, and our partners are with us,” he said.

Also read | Make A Deal or US Is Out: Trump-Zelenskyy-Vance In Full Blown Public Spat, White House Shares Full Video

• Zelenskyy Removed from White House After Heated Argument with Trump

The meeting between President Trump and Ukrainian President Zelenskyy took an unexpected turn, leading to an abrupt end. Following a heated exchange, Zelenskyy and his team were asked to leave the White House, with no joint press conference or scheduled lunch with the President taking place.

• Zelenskyy Storms Out of White House in Anger
   
  After being asked to leave, a visibly upset and angry Zelenskyy stormed out of the White House, with an expression of humiliation, quickly entered his SUV and departed, ignoring shouting media questions about the outcome of the meeting.

• No Rare Earth Mineral Deal Signed
   
  The meeting, which had been anticipated to include the signing of a significant rare earth mineral deal, ended abruptly without any agreement. The deal, which would have granted the US 50 per cent rights to Ukraine’s rare earth elements, was scrapped after the public fallout between the two leaders.

Trump touted that through this deal, America will get its taxpayers’ money back, which was spent on Ukraine during the war to help sustain it. After Trump-Zelenskyy meeting, the White House informed that the deal was not signed.

• Europe Strongly Backs Ukraine After Meeting Fallout
   
  In the wake of the clash between Trump and Zelenskyy, many European leaders swiftly expressed their support for Ukraine. Key figures like Ursula von der Leyen, French President Macron, and others voiced their solidarity with Zelenskyy, emphasizing the importance of respecting Ukraine’s fight for dignity, independence, and European security.