An initially cordial meeting between US President Donald Trump, that started so well, compliments and pleasantries exchanged until Vice President JD Vance erupted towards Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the Oval Office.
Pent up and angry the VP could not hold back his antipathy for Zelensky and suddenly the meeting descended into a shouting match as Trump and Vance accused Zelensky of being “disrespectful” and ungrateful for US aid.
World leaders react to Trump-Zelensky clash
It was unprecedented to say the least. The genial tone devolved into acrimony and chaos. Voices were raised, eyes rolled, aspersions were cast – and all in front of the world’s TV cameras. Zelensky left the White House without signing a planned minerals deal. It was box office for all those who tuned in, but concerning for all the parties involved.
World leaders react to Trump-Zelensky clash, dismayed by the altercastion were mostly concerned that an incident like that could take place and President Trump did not diffuse it, instead he doubled down and backed his own.
The reaction to a tense verbal clash between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US President Donald Trump on Friday. Russia and Hungary sided with Trump, but the majority of the Europe all stood with President Zelensky.
The US media has defended President Trump’s reaction suggesting Zelensky was trying to negotiate on-the-fly, something that irked the VP. But European newspapers have suggested that the VP wanted the spotlight and showed Trump up, forcing his hand, when a deal was almost in place.
Russia says Trump showed ‘restraint’ against ‘scumbag’ Zelensky
Russia’s foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on Friday said US President Donald Trump showed “restraint” by not hitting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during their shouting match in the White House.
“I think Zelensky’s biggest lie of all his lies was his assertion in the White House that the Kyiv regime in 2022 was alone, without support,” she wrote on Telegram following Trump-Zelensky clash in Oval Office.
“How Trump and Vance held back from hitting that scumbag is a miracle of restraint,” she said.
Hungary’s Orban thanks Trump for standing ‘for peace’
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Friday thanked US President Donald Trump for standing “bravely for peace” following a heated dispute between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Trump at the White House.
“Strong men make peace, weak men make war. Today President @realDonaldTrump stood bravely for peace. Even if it was difficult for many to digest. Thank you, Mr. President!” Orban wrote in a post on X.
‘The free world needs a new leader’, EU’s top diplomat says after Trump-Zelensky clash
The European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said it has become clear that “the free world needs a new leader” after Trump-Zelensky clash in Oval Office at the White House on Friday.
“Ukraine is Europe! We stand by Ukraine,” Kaja Kallas said in a social media post.
“We will step up our support to Ukraine so that they can continue to fight back (against) the aggressor,” she added. “Today, it became clear that the free world needs a new leader.”
“It’s up to us, Europeans, to take this challenge.”
Meloni calls for a summit ‘without delay’ between US, Europe, allies
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called on Friday evening for a summit between the United States, Europe and their allies on Ukraine, following President Trump-Zelensky clash in Oval Office.
“A summit without delay is needed between the United States, European states and their allies to talk frankly about how we intend to tackle today’s major challenges, starting with Ukraine, which together we have defended in recent years,” Meloni said in a statement.
Germany’s Merz says ‘never confuse the aggressor and victim’ in Ukraine war
Likely future German chancellor Friedrich Merz assured his support to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky following a spat with his US counterpart.
“We must never confuse the aggressor and the victim in this terrible war,” Merz, whose party recently came top in Germany’s elections, said on X. Outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz voiced support for Kyiv in a statement.
Canada’s foreign minister says Ukraine fighting for freedom, after Trump-Zelensky spat
Canada’s foreign minister defended Ukraine Friday after a row broke out between US President Donald Trump and his counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky, saying Ukrainians were fighting for their freedom and “ours.”
“We believe in supporting Ukraine. We think Ukrainians are fighting for their own freedoms, but they’re also fighting for ours,” Canada’s top diplomat Melanie Joly told reporters in Vancouver, adding that “Russians are noting” the verbal assault at the White House.
EU’s von der Leyen voices support for Zelensky after White House clash
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen voiced support for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky following a shouting match between Zelensky and US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office on Friday.
“Your dignity honors the bravery of the Ukrainian people,” she posted on X. “Be strong, be brave, be fearless. You are never alone, dear President @ZelenskyyUa. We will continue working with you for a just and lasting peace.”
Europe ‘united’ behind Ukraine, Germany says after Zelensky-Trump row
Germany’s foreign minister on Friday said Berlin and Europe were “united” behind Ukraine after an extraordinary row broke out between US President Donald Trump and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky.
How do Ukrainians react?
The Trump-Zelensky clash in Oval Office has had a rallying effect on Ukrainian, whose loyalties towards Zelenskiy were divided. Ukrainians reaffirmed support for President Volodymyr Zelensky after he was subjected to US President Donald Trump’s verbal assault at the White House.
Even opposition politicians agreed with Zelensky’s rejection of the Trump ceasefire plan that did not include security guarantees.
What next for Ukraine? After the verbal assault at the White House
The Oval Office exchange led to a canceled press conference, a minerals deal off the table and Trump asking the Ukrainian president to leave.
A few hours later Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke during an interview with Fox News that it would be “difficult” for Ukraine to hold off Russia without US support and that he believed the relationship with the White House could be repaired Trump-Zelensky clash in Oval Office.
Which was confirmed by President Trump, who said Zelensky wanted to come back now, but it was inconvenient for the White House.
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