Ukrainian reactions run contrary to those of US officials as Secretary of State Rubio has described Zelensky’s trip as a “fiasco”
Politicians in Kiev have rallied behind Vladimir Zelensky after his public spat with Donald Trump, praising the Ukrainian leader’s “bravery and strength” in standing up to the US president.
Zelensky’s visit to the White House on Friday was abruptly cut short after his meeting with the US president and vice president devolved into a heated argument in front of the media. Trump and J.D. Vance accused their guest of “gambling with World War III” due to his reluctance to negotiate peace with Russia, and of being disrespectful and ungrateful for the substantial military aid provided to Kiev by Washington.
During the shouting match, Zelensky again ruled out the possibility of talks with Moscow, demanded security guarantees from the US, refused to acknowledge that Kiev’s forces are experiencing manpower shortages and implied that Vance could not have known anything about Ukraine’s problems due to not having been to the country.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described Zelensky’s trip to Washington as a “fiasco,” while Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that “with his outrageously boorish behavior” the Ukrainian leader confirmed that he is “a most dangerous threat to the international community.”
Officials in Kiev, however, saw the Oval Office meeting in a completely different light. Zelensky’s Chief of Staff Andrey Yermak posted on X on Friday that the Ukrainian leader “is fighting for our country, for everyone who stands for a just and lasting peace.” Yermak insisted that he would support his boss “in every situation.”
On the same day, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrey Sibiga complimented Zelensky for having “the bravery and strength to stand up for what is right” during the exchange in the Oval Office.
The Ukrainian leader’s top aide Mikhail Podoliak wrote on X on Saturday that Zelensky’s stance is “impeccable, well-argued and absolutely correct.” Podoliak also stressed that “emotions are emotions, but the facts are quite concrete… Just like reputations.”
Zelensky “is a rock, and few leaders in the world can match his fortitude. And he really wants to put an end to this war, not a comma, which might seem like a good option to some,” David Arakhamia, who heads the ruling Servant of the People party in the Ukrainian parliament, said as cited by Deutsche Welle.
Ukraine’s top general, Aleksandr Syrsky, also supported Zelensky after his argument with Trump, writing on Telegram that “the Armed Forces are with Ukraine, with the people, with the Supreme Commander-in-Chief. Our strength is in unity.”
In its article on Saturday, Time magazine cited an unnamed colonel of the Ukrainian military, who said “well done” of Zelensky’s attempts to resist Trump. “You have to respect that… But now we are f****ed,” he added.
