 "Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy departs after a meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House on Friday. AP")
Senate Democrats criticised US President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance for aligning with Russian President Vladimir Putin after they confronted Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a highly charged White House meeting on Friday.
“Trump and Vance are doing Putin’s dirty work. Senate Democrats will never stop fighting for freedom and democracy,” AFP quoted Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer as posting on social media.
Schumer’s comments came after President Trump cut short talks with Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy over a deal for US access to that country’s rare earth minerals after a heated exchange in the Oval Office.
Trump berated Zelenskyy for being “disrespectful.”
The two leaders had planned to sign an agreement and hold a joint press conference. But Zelenskyy was instead preparing to leave the White House.
In a Truth Social post later, Trump said that President Zelenskyy is not ready for peace if America is involved and added that “he can come back when he is ready for peace.”
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More Shorts“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,” said Trump
Earlier, Trump warned Zelenskyy that Ukraine had to make a deal with the United States - or Washington would end its support since the Russian invasion.
“Your people are very brave, but you’re either going to make a deal or we’re out, and if we’re out, you’ll fight it out,” Trump said in the White House in a dramatic verbal clash.
“I don’t think it’s going to be pretty, but you’ll fight it out, but you don’t have the cards,” he added.
Trump also accused Zelenskyy of “gambling with World War III” during the heated exchange.
Tensions escalated shortly after Vance confronted Zelenskyy for not “being grateful”.
With inputs from agencies