President Donald Trump released a statement on social media in the aftermath of a heated exchange that turned into a shouting match between Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday at the Oval Office.
āWe had a very meaningful meeting at the White house today. Much was learned that could never be understood without conversation under such fire and pressure,ā Trump said in his statement. āItās amazing what comes out through emotion, and I have determined that President Zelenskyy is not ready for Peace if America is involved, because he feels our involvement gives him a big advantage in negotiations.ā
Trump noted that the time has come for the war to end and to have Peace restored.
āI donāt want advantage, I want Peace. He disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office. He can come back when he is ready for Peace,ā he added.
The war between Ukraine and Russia has just passed its third year, after Russian troops attacked Ukraineās capital Kyiv on February 24, 2022. Russian President Valdmir Putin had claimed that the attacks were to keep Russian speakers safe, and noted the Ukraineās push to join NATO was a āhostile act,ā according to USA Today.
During the exchange in the Oval Office, Trump told reporters it was difficult to come to an agreement with someone who has a lot of āhatred.ā
āYou see the hatred heās got for Putin, itās very tough for me to make a deal with that kind of hate,ā Trump told reporters. āHeās got tremendous hatred. And I understand that, but I can tell you, the other side isnāt exactly in love with, you know, with him either. So, itās not a question of alignment, Iām aligned with the world. I wanna get the thing set. Iām aligned with Europe. I wanna see if we can get this thing done.ā
āYou want me to be tough, I can be tougher than any human being youāve ever seen, Iād be so tough. But youāre never going to get a deal that way, so thatās the way it goes,ā he said.
The meeting took a turn for the worse, however, after Zelenskyy implied the U.S. would āfeel it in the futureā after Vance pressed him about Ukraineās struggle to continue fighting effectively, citing manpower issues.
āYou donāt know that you donāt know that. Donāt tell us what weāre gonna feel. weāre trying to solve a problem. Donāt tell us what weāre gonna feel,ā Trump said.
āIām not telling you,ā Zelenskyy interjected.
āBecause youāre in no position to dictate that, remember youāre in no position to dictate what weāre gonna feel,ā Trump said. āWeāre gonna feel very good. Weāre gonna feel very good and very strong. Right now, youāre not in a very good position. Youāve allowed yourself to be in a very bad position, and happens to be right about it.ā
