The pair met within the Oval Workplace on Friday, when Mr Zelensky was advised to be “grateful” for 3 years of American assist since Russia’s invasion, and Mr Trump accused him of “playing with World Struggle Three”.
His assault adopted Mr Zelensky’s declare that the US president was “residing in a disinformation area” managed by Moscow, in response to US-Russian negotiations in Saudi Arabia that excluded Kyiv.
Mr Trump additionally mentioned that Kyiv was accountable for Moscow’s invasion and that Ukraine had “began the warfare”.
“Consider it, a modestly profitable comic, Volodymyr Zelensky, talked the US of America into spending $350 billion to enter a warfare that couldn’t be gained, that by no means needed to begin.” Mr Trump beforehand wrote on Reality Social.
“He refuses to have elections, could be very low in Ukrainian polls, and the one factor he was good at was enjoying Biden ‘like a fiddle’.
“A dictator with out elections, Zelensky higher transfer quick or he isn’t going to have a rustic left. Within the meantime, we’re efficiently negotiating an finish to the warfare with Russia, one thing all admit solely TRUMP and the Trump administration can do.”
Former comic Mr Zelensky gained Ukraine’s most up-to-date presidential election with ease in 2019. Resulting from martial regulation, new elections that had been scheduled for March or April of final yr had been postponed.
Following Mr Trump and Mr Zelensky’s heated exchanges, folks have been fast to talk out towards the US president, together with his former vice chairman, Mike Pence, who acknowledged on social media that “Ukraine didn’t ‘begin’ this warfare”.
However who else has come ahead to assist Ukraine? Right here’s an inventory.
Numerous world leaders share assist
World leaders flocked to X to share assist for Mr Zelensky and Ukraine following Friday’s spat on the White Home.
This included Swiss president Karin Keller-Sutter, who reiterated Switzerland’s dedication to peace in Ukraine. She tweeted: “Switzerland stays firmly dedicated to supporting a simply and lasting peace, whereas condemning Russia’s aggression towards a sovereign state.”
Montenegro president Jakov Milatović echoed her phrases: “Montenegro helps a simply and lasting peace in Ukraine and stands with its folks of their pursuit of peace.”
In the meantime, Polish prime minister Donald Tusk additionally expressed solidarity with Mr Zelensky, stating, “Pricey President Zelensky, pricey Ukrainian pals, you aren’t alone.”
The president of Estonia Alar Karis, the prime minister of Australia Anthony Albanese, and Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau had been amongst different world leaders talking publicly in assist of their Ukrainian counterpart.
And European Fee President Ursula von der Leyen praised Mr Zelensky’s bravery and warranted continued assist for Ukraine.
Former US vice chairman Mike Pence tells Trump ‘Ukraine didn’t begin this warfare’
Mike Pence, the previous vice chairman of President Trump, turned outraged over the feedback final month.
He went onto X to say that, “Mr President, Ukraine didn’t ‘begin’ this warfare. Russia launched an unprovoked and brutal invasion claiming tons of of 1000’s of lives. The Street to Peace have to be constructed on the Reality.”
Mr Pence additionally included the hyperlink to a 2022 Fox Information article titled, “Russia invades Ukraine in largest European assault since WWII”, that was printed on the primary day of the battle.
Sir Keir Starmer backs Zelenksy
In line with a consultant for Downing Avenue, Sir Keir “expressed his assist for President Zelensky as Ukraine’s democratically elected chief”.
The consultant went on to say that it was “completely affordable to droop elections throughout warfare time because the UK did throughout World Struggle Two”.
Sir Keir can be claimed to have “emphasised the necessity for everybody to work collectively” with a view to resolve the Ukrainian state of affairs amicably.
Over the weekend, Sir Keir introduced a deal, which the UK has reportedly signed, involving a £1.6 billion deal to produce greater than 5,000 air-defence missiles to Ukraine utilizing export finance.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz calls Trump’s feedback ‘fallacious and harmful’
Olaf Scholz, the German chancellor, in February swiftly remarked that “it’s merely fallacious and harmful to disclaim president Zelensky his democratic legitimacy”, in a press release to German newspaper Spiegel.
He added: “It’s true that Volodymyr Zelensky is the elected head of state of Ukraine. The truth that no correct elections may be held in the course of a warfare is in step with the Ukrainian structure and electoral legal guidelines. Nobody ought to declare in any other case.”
Australia’s opposition chief Peter Dutton says ‘President Trump has acquired it fallacious’
Australia’s opposition chief, Peter Dutton, additionally chimed in with robust criticism final month, as he bluntly advised Sydney-based radio station 2GB: “I believe President Trump has acquired it fallacious.”
“Australia ought to stand robust and proud with the folks of Ukraine. It is a democracy, and this can be a combat for civilisation. Vladimir Putin is a murderous dictator, and we shouldn’t be giving him an inch,” he added.
Whereas Australia’s defence minister, Richard Marles, added that “the warfare in Ukraine have to be resolved on Ukraine’s phrases, as a result of the aggressor right here is Russia”.
