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by Tyler Durden
March 01, 2025
from
ZeroHedge Website
The
significance of
today's
meltdown in the Oval Office
between
Trump, Vance, and Zelenskyy
cannot be
overstated.
Ukrainian
Officials "Desperate"
to get deal Back
on Track...
Trump Not
Interested...
Essentially here's what went down...
A deal was done, as far as US officials were concerned, and then
Zelenskyy asked for more after engaging in a spat with VP JD Vance.
According to CBS News'
Jennifer Jacobs:
"Trump fully intended to sign the minerals
deal today.
Two official binders were prepared - Treasury
Secretary Scott Bessent and his Ukrainian counterpart and the
two presidents were going to sit at a conference table in the
East Room and then trumpet their success at podiums."
...
None of this drama [was] premeditated.
Trump officials were incredulous that some
media outlets suggested it might have been. The greeting with
Trump and Zelenskyy was warm, with jokes and a guest book
signing in the West Wing lobby. They went straight into the Oval
and the vibe was positive.
White House wanted this deal done today.
Trump believes that Zelenskyy missed out on a huge opportunity
to have the US as a business partner, with US companies helping
Ukraine monetize mineral resources such as gas, oil, aluminum,
tritrium, gallium and others.
Trump viewed it as the 1st step in
in a progression towards peace.
Which explains why Secretary of State Marco Rubio looked like
this in the middle of the spat:
Later, Zelenskyy went on Fox News, where he acknowledged that he
'regretted' what went down - but said he doesn't think he did
anything "wrong"... (sic...)
"I am not sure we did something bad," he told
Baier, adding "I respect president Trump and the American
people, but we have to be very honest and direct to understand
each other."
According to Jacobs, Trump is,
"unwilling to talk to Zelenskyy further
today."
Shortly before Zelenskyy appeared on Fox, Trump
told the press that Zelenskyy "overplayed his hand."
Conservative commentator Richard Hanania lays out what
happened this afternoon:
I watched the entire press conference with
Zelensky.
There was 40 minutes of discussion up to the
argument. Most people saw at most the last ten minutes. The
whole video gives the proper context.
When I first watched the argument without the proper context, I
thought it was possible that Trump and Vance ambushed Zelensky
or were even trying to humiliate him.
That's not what happened.
You had 40 minutes of calm conversation.
Vance made a point that didn't attack
Zelensky and wasn't even addressed to him, and Zelensky clearly
started the argument.
In the first 40 minutes, Zelensky kept trying to go beyond what
was negotiated in the deal. When Trump was asked a question, it
was always "we'll see."
Zelensky made blanket assertions that there
would be no negotiating with Putin, and that Russia would pay
for the war.
When Trump said that it was a tragedy that
people on both sides were dying, Zelensky interjected that the
Russians were the invaders.
For his part, Trump made clear that the US would continue
delivering military aid. All Zelensky had to do was remain calm
for a few more minutes and they would've signed a deal.
The argument started when Trump pointed out that it would be
hard to make a deal if you talk about Putin the way Zelensky
does. Vance interjects to make the reasonable point that
Biden called Putin names and that didn't get us anywhere.
The Zelensky/Trump dynamic was calm and stable. It was when
Vance spoke that Zelensky started to interrogate him.
Throughout the press conference to that
point, everyone was making their arguments directly to the
audience. Zelensky decided to challenge Vance and ask him
hostile questions.
He went back to his point that Putin never
sticks to ceasefires, once again implying that negotiations are
pointless.
Why on earth would you do this...?
Then came the fight we all saw.
Zelensky was minutes away from being home free, and he would
have had the deal and new commitments from the Trump
administration. The point Vance made was directed against Biden
and the media, taking them to task for speaking in moralistic
terms.
This offended Zelensky, and that began the
argument.
I've been a fan of Zelensky up to this point, but this showed
so much incompetence, if not emotional instability,
that I don't see how he recovers from this.
The relationship with the administration is
broken.
Ukraine should probably go with new
leadership at this point...!
* * *
Update (1628ET)
As expected, today's Trump-Vance-Zelensky cage
match that nuked that Ukraine deal has erupted into an international
firestorm.
A few select reactions...
Team World "Police"...:
-
Spanish PM Sanchez says "Ukraine,
Spain stands with you."
-
French Foreign Minister Barrot
says Putin's Russia is the aggressor, there is one
necessity: Europe, now the time for words is over, time for
action.
-
German Chancellor Scholz says
Ukraine can rely on Germany and Europe.
-
EU's von der Leyen says "be
strong, be brave, be fearless, you are never alone, Dear
President Zelensky"
-
Lithuanian President says Ukraine will
never be alone.
-
Portuguese PM says Ukraine can count on
us to support it
-
Czech Republic President says "We stand
with Ukraine more than ever. Time for Europe to step up its
efforts."
-
EU foreign policy chief Kallas
says "Today, it became clear that the free world needs a new
leader. It's up to US, Europeans, to take this challenge."
-
Polish PM Tusk posts on X, "Dear
Zelensky, dear Ukrainian friends, you are not alone".
-
French President Macron says
Russia is the aggressor, and Ukraine is the aggressed
people. We were all right to help Ukraine and sanction
Russia 3 years ago, and to continue to do so.
-
Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said
"Trump and Vance are doing Putin's dirty work."
The Atlantic's David Frum was
mega-triggered, writing:
"Trump and Vance have revealed to Americans
and to America's allies their alignment with Russia, and their
animosity toward Ukraine in general and its president in
particular.
The truth is ugly, but it's necessary to face
it."
On the other hand:
-
Deputy Chairman of the Security Council
of the Russian Federation Medvedev posts on X 'The
insolent pig finally got a proper slap down in the Oval
Office. And Trump is right: The Kiev regime is "gambling
with WWIII," adding "For the first time, Trump told the
truth to the cocaine clown's face".'
-
Hungarian President Vicktor Orbán
thanks Trump for standing 'for peace.'
But perhaps the biggest indicator that Zelensky
is fucked came from deep state tentacle Lindsey Graham, who
walked out of the White House and said,
"I have never been more proud of the
president. I was very proud of JD Vance standing up for our
country."
Graham then slammed Zelensky, saying,
"The way he handled the meeting, the way he
confronted the president was just over the top," adding "What I
saw in the Oval Office was disrespectful.
And I don't know if we can ever do business
with Zelensky again."
Watch (via Collin Rugg):
Update (1530ET):
Moments after Ukrainian President Volodomyr
Zelensky left the White House following an explosive argument in
front of the press (scroll down), and President Donald Trump
shredded any chance of a Ukraine deal to end the war (anytime soon),
two things happened.
1) White House
staffers literally ate Zelensky's lunch...
2) Secretary of State Marco
Rubio,
terminated US support for restoring Ukraine's
energy grid, which was funded by a
USAID initiative that had
invested hundreds of millions of dollars,
NBC reports:
The State Department this week terminated
a U.S. Agency for International Development initiative that
has invested hundreds of millions of dollars to help restore
Ukraine's energy grid from attacks by the Russian military,
according to two USAID officials working on the agency's
Ukraine mission.
...
Based on a document obtained by NBC News, the State
Department has also ordered the termination of a program
focused on "financial sector reform activity."
"We won't have the eyes on where this
money has gone over the last few years," one of the
officials said.
How much popcorn can one consume on a Friday?
* * *
Update (1420ET):
President Trump has effectively shredded
any deal with Ukraine for the time being, writing on Truth Social
following a testy exchange (see full clips below) with Ukrainian
President Volodomyr Zelsnsky:
"We had a very meaningful meeting in the
White House today.
Much was learned that could never be
understood without conversation under such fire and pressure.
It's 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.
I don't 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."
Trump also canceled a scheduled press conference
with Zelensky that was set for later in the day.
Meanwhile, several GOP lawmakers and members of the Trump
administration have voiced their support for Trump and
Vance following the exchange.
"America FIRST. Strong, unapologetic
leadership on the world stage is BACK!" said Rep. Randy Weber
(R-TX) on X.
"Amen, Mr. President," said Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
in response to Trump's statement above.
"Thank you, President Trump, for standing up for the American
people and our nation on the global stage," said Treasury
Secretary Scott Bessent.
"It is amazing to have a President and VP who put America First!
Thank you President Trump and VP Vance for fighting for our
country and our people!" said Rep. Riley Moore (R-WV) on
X.
See the exchanges below...
* * *
Just days after calling him a 'dictator without elections,'
President Donald Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr
Zelensky at the White House on Friday, where the two
discussed US efforts to end the war in Ukraine and the related
minerals deal - and then got into a giant argument that included VP
Vance dropping serious shade to Zelensky's face (see below)
As for the minerals deal to end the Ukraine war, Trump said there's
a 'very fair deal' on the table, which would allow the US to use
Ukraine's rare earths for AI and military applications, adding that
once the minerals deal is done, the war will be over, and "Russia
won't want to return."
Trump said they've "made a deal."
Then Things Got Tense
Trump then slammed Zelensky for,
"gambling with world war three," adding "You
either make a deal or we are out..."
"I gave you the Javelins to take out all those tanks. Obama gave
you sheets... You got to be more thankful because let me tell
you, you don't have the cards.
With us, you have the cards - but without us
you don't have any cards."
Vice President JD Vance chimed in, asking,
"Have you said thank you once?
You went to Pennsylvania to campaign on the
opposition."
Zelensky, apparently not a historian, said that
Putin 'began the war' and 'has to pay,' while Trump says he's "in
the middle" regarding the war, adding,
"I'm for both Ukraine and Russia."
Trump also added that he's committed to NATO.
Trump also commented several times on Zelensky's attire...
Wut...
The day before the meeting, Trump softened his tone on the
'dictator' comment, saying that he now has a "lot of respect" for
the Ukrainian leader (who's canceled elections, banned the Orthodox
Church, and outlawed non-USAID propaganda media).
Earlier, Zelensky said he met with a bipartisan US Senate
delegation, which he described as,
"an important visit to the United States."
"We take pride in having strategic partners and friends like the
United States.
We are grateful for the unwavering bicameral
and bipartisan support for Ukraine throughout all three years of
Russia's full-scale aggression," he said on X.
Developing...
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