U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had a tense showdown within the Oval Workplace on Friday—the likes of which many world leaders had been capable of watch unfold, because of the media being current with their cameras rolling. The pair, joined by U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance, interrupted one another repeatedly throughout a gathering initially supposed to be a couple of key U.S.-Ukraine minerals settlement.
“You don’t have the playing cards proper now,” Trump informed Zelensky within the trade, referencing Ukraine’s ongoing warfare with Russia and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Zelensky responded with a degree of his personal: “We’re not taking part in playing cards.”
Trump made varied different remarks about Zelensky and Ukraine’s present place, and the involvement the Biden Administration had in supplying help and funds to Ukraine after it was invaded by Russia. Zelensky remained steadfast on his level {that a} cease-fire settlement between Ukraine and Russia would not be adequate with out safety ensures from the U.S., and that Putin can’t be trusted.
“You’re playing with [the] lives of tens of millions of individuals, you’re playing with World Warfare III and what you’re doing may be very disrespectful to this nation,” Trump informed Zelensky.
Learn Extra: Zelensky’s Oval Workplace Conflict with Trump Attracts Pleasure and Worry in Ukraine
Trump adopted that up by saying: “Your males are courageous, however that they had our navy. For those who didn’t have our navy tools, this warfare would have been over in two weeks.”
Shortly after the trade, Trump canceled a deliberate press convention with Zelensky and reduce off negotiations. He took to his personal social media platform, Reality Social, the place he wrote that Zelensky “isn’t prepared for Peace if America is concerned.”
“He disrespected america of America in its cherished Oval Workplace. He can come again when he’s prepared for Peace,” Trump mentioned.
Following the Oval Workplace confrontation, many world leaders have spoken out, remarking upon what occurred.
Many have reified their help for Ukraine in its protection towards Russia’s invasion. A couple of have supported Trump. Zelensky took to posting on X (previously Twitter) to thank the world leaders who’ve come to his protection on the platform.
The Ukrainian chief travelled to London and met with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, as deliberate, on Saturday. Zelensky remarked on social media that they’d had a “significant and heat assembly.”
“Throughout our talks, we mentioned the challenges going through Ukraine and all of Europe, coordination with companions, concrete steps to strengthen Ukraine’s place, and ending the warfare with a simply peace, together with strong safety ensures,” Zelensky mentioned.
Afterward Saturday, British Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves and Ukraine’s Finance Minister Sergii Marchenko signed the U.Okay.-Ukraine Bilateral settlement. The U.Okay. strengthened its help for Ukraine with a £2.26 billion mortgage to bolster Ukrainian defence capabilities.
On Sunday, Zelensky was the visitor of honor at a summit of European leaders in London, held by Starmer, which centered on Ukraine and European safety. Becoming a member of varied high-profile leaders from throughout Europe, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was in attendance. Throughout the summit, Starmer set forth his intentions, revealing that himself and different European leaders will work on a plan to current to the U.S.
“In my conversations in current days, we agreed a bunch of us will work with Ukraine on a plan to cease the combating, after which talk about that with the U.S. and take it ahead collectively,” Starmer mentioned, based on the BBC. “Even whereas Russia talks about peace, they’re persevering with their relentless aggression. That’s the agenda and we have to agree what steps come out of this assembly to ship peace by way of power for the good thing about all.”
Afterward Sunday, Zelensky was hosted by King Charles III at Sandringham Property in Norfolk.
With Ukraine and U.S. relations now underneath a highlight, Zelensky posted a prolonged assertion to X on Saturday, stating he was “grateful” to Trump, Congress, and the American individuals for his or her help, and that the nation’s assist has been “very important” in Ukraine’s survival.
“It’s essential for us to have President Trump’s help. He needs to finish the warfare, however nobody needs peace greater than we do,” Zelensky mentioned. “We’re those dwelling this warfare in Ukraine. It’s a struggle for our freedom, for our very survival… Our scenario is hard, however we will’t simply cease combating and never having ensures that Putin is not going to return tomorrow.”
Right here’s how world leaders have responded to the Oval Workplace showdown:
Australia
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese reified the nation’s help for Ukraine in a press convention with reporters quickly after the trade.
“We stand with Ukraine,” he mentioned. “The individuals of Ukraine are combating not only for their very own nationwide sovereignty, they’re combating for the worldwide rule of legislation.”
Alexander Schallenberg, the appearing Chancellor of Austria echoed these sentiments. highlighting that his nation “stands with Ukraine.”
Austria
Former Federal Chancellor of the Republic of Austria Karl Nehammer made a present of help to Ukraine through social media. “The Ukrainian individuals have been courageously defending their nation towards the Russian aggressor, for greater than three years,” he mentioned. “All of us need this warfare to finish, ultimately. Russia is the aggressor and subsequently Europe helps Ukraine‘s efforts to realize a simply and lasting peace!”
Belgium
Belgium’s Prime Minister, Bart De Wever, echoed his fellow European leaders’ help. In an announcement shared on X, he mentioned: “We stand behind Ukraine and the Ukrainian individuals of their historic struggle to defend themselves towards an unprovoked Russian aggression. Their struggle is our struggle. United we’re robust.”
Canada
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau mentioned that Canada will “proceed to face with Ukraine.”
“Russia illegally and unjustifiably invaded Ukraine,” he mentioned, through a submit on X. “For 3 years now, Ukrainians have fought with braveness and resilience. Their struggle for democracy, freedom, and sovereignty is a struggle that issues to us all.”
Denmark
Mette Frederiksen, the Prime Minister of Denmark, mentioned: “Denmark proudly stands with Ukraine and the Ukrainian individuals.”
England
Zelensky has since arrived in England for a deliberate assembly with U.Okay. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, as an announcement from Downing Road shared that Starmer nonetheless expresses “unwavering help for Ukraine.” Starmer reportedly spoke with each Trump—who he met within the Oval Workplace earlier this week—and Zelensky after the heated trade.
Starmer took to X after his assembly with Zelensky and posted a video of himself greeting the Ukrainian President.
“Motion, not simply phrases. Britain stands with Ukraine, as we speak and at all times,” he mentioned.
Estonia
President of Estonia Alar Karis mentioned his nation’s help for Ukraine is “unwavering.”
“Your braveness conjures up us all. We stand with you, President Zelensky, and with [the] individuals of Ukraine. You aren’t alone,” he mentioned.
European Fee
“Your dignity honors the bravery of the Ukrainian individuals,” Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Fee—the manager department of the European Union— mentioned on social media. Addressing Zelensky, she mentioned: “Be robust, be courageous, be fearless. You’re by no means alone, expensive President.”
Vice chairman of the European Fee, Kaja Kallas, supported this stance. “Ukraine is Europe! We stand by Ukraine,” she mentioned.
Finland
Alexander Stubb, the President of Finland, shared a message stating: “We’ll stand by Ukraine for so long as it takes.”
“The heroic struggle of Ukraine towards Russia’s warfare of aggression is in regards to the existence of Ukraine as a nation,” he mentioned, through social media. “We in Finland perceive what Ukraine goes by way of.”
France
French President Emmanuel Macron posted in clear help of Ukraine, stating that those that proceed to struggle for Ukraine achieve this “for his or her dignity, their independence, their kids, and the safety of Europe.”
“There may be an aggressor: Russia. There’s a sufferer: Ukraine,” he mentioned. “We had been proper to assist Ukraine and sanction Russia three years in the past – and to maintain doing so.”
Georgia
Georgia’s Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze took to Fb to help Trump, wishing the U.S. President “endurance and braveness” in a prolonged submit in Georgian, which may very well be translated to English on the social media platform.
Germany
There have been various responses out of Germany. A number of German leaders have come to Zelensky’s protection.
“Ukraine isn’t alone,” International Minister Annalena Baerbock wrote in an announcement posted to social media. “Germany along with our European allies stands united alongside Ukraine— and towards the Russian aggression. Ukraine can construct on unwavering help from Germany, Europe, and past.”
Germany’s present Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, and the incoming Chancellor, Friedrich Merz, additionally voiced their help, on X.
“We mustn’t ever confuse aggressor and sufferer on this horrible warfare,” Merz mentioned.
Elsewhere, Tino Chrupalla, a co-leader of Germany’s far-right Different for Germany (AfD), vocalized his help for Trump.
“For the reason that E.U. and Germany sadly fail as mediators, the USA and Russia should come to an settlement,” he mentioned, through a translated submit shared on X.
Hungary
The Prime Minister of Hungary, Orbán Viktor, notably broke away from a lot of his European counterparts and showcased his help for Trump.
“Robust males make peace, weak males make warfare,” he mentioned in a submit on X. “Immediately President @realDonaldTrump stood bravely for peace. Even when it was troublesome for a lot of to digest. Thanks, Mr. President!”
Eire
Micheál Martin, the Taoiseach (Prime Minister) of Eire and Simon Harris, the Tánaiste (Deputy Prime Minister), each confirmed their help to Ukraine through X.
“Having visited Ukraine twice, I’ve seen the resilience and braveness of its individuals,” mentioned Martin, who met with Zelensky on Feb. 27. “Eire stands with Ukraine.”
Italy
Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who’s popular with Trump, advised a summit between the U.S., European nations, and allies to “communicate frankly about how we intend to deal with as we speak’s main challenges, beginning with Ukraine” in an announcement launched Friday.
“Any division of the West makes us all weaker, and advantages those that want to see the decline of our civilization; not the decline of its energy or affect, however the decline of the rules on which it was based, initially: freedom,” Meloni’s assertion continued.
Montenegro
Jakov Milatović, President of Montenegro, posted on X to indicate his help to Ukraine, tagging Zelensky. “Montenegro helps a simply and lasting peace in Ukraine and stands with its individuals of their pursuit of peace,” he reaffirmed.
New Zealand
Prime Minister of New Zealand Christopher Luxon spoke out through social media. “New Zealand stays steadfast in its help for Ukraine because it defends itself in a warfare that Russia began,” he mentioned. “It is mounting the defence of a proud, democratic and sovereign nation, but in addition the defence of worldwide legislation.”
Romania
Ilie Bolojan, the interim President of Romania, mentioned: “The safety of Ukraine is essential for the safety of Europe. All of us want to face collectively to struggle for our values, freedom, and peace.”
Slovak Republic
Former President of Slovakia, Zuzana Čaputová, who led the nation till 2024, posted on X in help of Ukraine, stating that the individuals are “defending their proper to reside.”
“It’s that easy,” she mentioned. “They deserve all of the help they’ll get to defend this proper and to reside and prosper as a sovereign nation dwelling in peace.”
Slovenia
Nataša Pirc Musar, President of Slovenia, mentioned: “What we witnessed within the Oval Workplace as we speak undermines these values and the foundations of diplomacy. We stand firmly in help of Ukraine’s sovereignty. We repeat, Russia is the aggressor.”
Spain
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who just lately introduced a brand new navy assist bundle price over $1 billion to Ukraine, mentioned: “Ukraine, Spain stands with you.” The social media message was translated into Spanish and Ukrainian.
Sweden
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson supported Ukraine on social media, writing that the nation “stands with Ukraine.”
“You aren’t solely combating in your freedom but in addition for all of Europe’s,” he mentioned.
