Volodymyr Zelenskyy does not want a ceasefire, does not want peace, overestimates his cards and strength, and prefers to criticize Vladimir Putin rather than think about the well-being of his population. That is the message Donald Trump wanted to convey this afternoon local time, almost midnight in Spain, in a new appearance before the media, after the public clash with the Ukrainian leader and the subsequent cancellation of the planned meeting and the signing of the long-awaited mineral agreement. That's why he kicked him out of the White House and warns him: "he thinks he's a big shot because he has the United States on his side. Well, either we put an end to it or let him fight [alone], and if he fights, it won't be pleasant. Because without us, he won't win."
After the grotesque spectacle, Trump decided he did not want any more diplomatic contact and sent Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the National Security Advisor to tell the Ukrainian delegation to leave. "He has disrespected the United States of America in his precious Oval Office. He can return when he is ready for peace," he bluntly bid farewell to him through his social network.
Hours later, however, the president wanted to elaborate. Speaking to the correspondents in the White House gardens before heading to Florida like every weekend, Trump lashed out again admitting the meeting "did not go very well, especially for them. I think he went too far. We seek peace. We do not want someone who does not want peace because he feels emboldened. And that's what I saw happening. I seek peace, not a 10-year war. He seeks something that I do not seek. He seeks to keep fighting, fighting, fighting," he explained without hardening his tone and without announcing, at least for the moment, any kind of reprisal, personal or general.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy's response, minutes later, came in an interview on Fox, the president's favorite channel. All the visitors who have passed through the White House this week, Emmanuel Macron, the British Keith Starmer, and now the Ukrainian, have had to pay the toll, because they know it is the best way to reach the president and his people. But this one has been special, after the unprecedented clash.
Zelenskyy has not capitulated. He has not apologized to Trump or Vance because he does not believe he has reasons or has done anything wrong, but he admitted that he "regrets" what happened because "it has not been good for anyone". The president has thanked "Trump, Congress, and the people of the United States" on half a dozen occasions for their help over these three years, essential for survival. But he has also made it clear that he could not allow the praise for Putin and the casual way in which the discussion of what would happen after a peace agreement was being handled. Ukrainians' obsession is precisely the day after, and Trump trivialized by saying that was "2% of his concern" and that when a ceasefire is signed, no further guarantees will be needed because Trump has told him he wants to end the war.
"We must be honest and straightforward. It is very necessary. With all due respect to President Trump, he wants to end the war but no one wants that more than us who fight for our freedom (...) I respect the president and the American people. We must be very open and very honest, I am not sure we have done anything wrong. I think there are some things we need to discuss outside the media, with all due respect to democracy and free media. But there are things we have to understand the position, and that is the most important (...) I cannot change our attitude towards Russia because it is killing us. Americans and Europeans are our friends, Russians are enemies. That does not mean we do not want peace," he concluded.
In the interview, he said he regretted the spectacle, which does no good. And without attacking Trump at any time, he emphasized that there is no basis to trust Putin, to trust his word, as the president seems to do. When asked if he thought he had been "ambushed," Zelenskyy said he did not know, but seeming to doubt the exact meaning of the term (he had to receive help from his team several times on some words, as although he speaks English, he does not master it). When pressed, he pointed out that he did not think it was a premeditated ambush, but the result of a frank but tough exchange.
There are those within Trump's team who wanted the immediate resignation of the Ukrainian leader, an operation that has been underway for weeks, step by step. "He has been destroyed in the eyes of Americans," celebrated Elon Musk, who leads the charge against him from X, one of the most powerful speakers in history. Others advocate for abruptly cutting military assistance to Kiev immediately to force Ukraine to sit at the table now, accepting territorial losses, signing up to enter NATO, and assuming a change in government. The US State Department itself decided this morning to freeze one of the programs that has been in place since 2022 to keep the country's electrical system afloat, a recurrent victim of Russian bombings.
But not for now. Throughout the morning and afternoon, movements were constant. The country, divided in two, has forced everyone to take a stand. The White House mobilized the entire government and the Republican caucuses in Congress to come out with strong messages of support and gratitude to the leader to counter the flood of criticism proliferating in the media, not only from Republican ranks but also from security analysts and former high-ranking officials, civilian and military, from conservative administrations.
"Thank you, Mr. President, for defending the United States in a way no president has had the courage to do before. Thank you for putting America first. America is with you!" tweeted Secretary of State Marco Rubio. "I have never been more proud of President Trump for showing the American people, and the world, that you do not mess with this man... He wanted to achieve a ceasefire. He wants to end the war, and Zelenskyy felt he needed to provoke Trump in the Oval Office," added Senator Lindsey Graham, calling for the Ukrainian's resignation. "I am very proud of our Commander in Chief. Thank you, President and Vice President, for defending America. We will not tolerate political games and disrespect for America. America is back," echoed Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem.
"Trump and Vance are cowards," denounced former Marine Seth Moulton. "This is the most embarrassing and shameful moment I have witnessed from the Oval Office. No nation in the world will forget that American leadership publicly sided with a dictator like Vladimir Putin and criticized a democratic friend like Ukraine," criticized Democratic Congressman Emanuel Cleaver. "I deeply admire President Zelenski. The guy has guts. He went to the Oval Office and faced Russia's top negotiators," echoed his colleague Eric Swallwel. "Trump criticizes Zelensky, the leader of a democratic country bravely fighting against Russian imperialism, while allying with Putin, a dictator who started the bloodiest European war in 80 years. I'm sorry, President Trump: we believe in democracy, not authoritarianism," concluded Senator Bernie Sanders.
At the end of the interview, the host asked Zelenskyy if he thought the relationship with Trump could be salvaged after what happened. Many on his team suggested he take advantage of those minutes on television to be more approachable, apologize, show more gratitude, and submission than "emboldened." Zelenski did not give in. He remained firm, but despite everything, he said he believed the relationship could be saved: "Yes, of course, because they are relationships more than with the president, they are historical relationships, strong relationships between our people. That is why I always start by thanking his people on behalf of our people," he emphasized amid criticism from J.D. Vance and Trump that he was ungrateful.