02/28/2025

Contentious Trump-Zelensky Meeting Threatens U.S. Support for Ukraine

At times, the encounter felt like a barroom brawl

President Donald Trump ripped into Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office on Friday in a remarkable encounter that could determine whether Europe’s future is war or peace. At times, the encounter felt more like a barroom brawl with furious demands from Trump and Vice President JD Vance for respect and gratitude from the wartime Ukrainian leader.

The heated back and forth — with Trump, Zelensky and Vance at times shouting over each other — was a striking breach of Oval Office comity, where even tough encounters have typically happened with calm voices and diplomatic language.

Not Friday, when Trump told Zelensky that he had no cards and was in no position to make requests of the United States. He also suggested talks could derail unless attitudes changed. The on-camera fury had no modern precedent and was all the more striking at a time when Trump appears to have begun a realignment with Moscow after generations in which Washington has stood staunchly against Kremlin aggression across the world.

Please select this link to read the complete article from The Washington Post.