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Happy Friday! In one way or another, it is already the last day of February. In today’s edition, we break down the benefits from the country and abroad from today’s White House meeting between Donald Trump, JD Vance and Volodymyr Zelenskyy who turned into a cries match.
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– Adam Wollner
The confrontation of the oval office heard the world
A meeting of the White House which was intended to launch the negotiations on an agreement on the minerals of the rare land of Ukraine devoted this afternoon to a remarkable confrontation, with President Donald Trump and vice-president JD Vance reprimanding the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and telling him that he was not grateful to the United States, Rebecca Shabad and Nnamdi Egwuonwu Report.
The oval shout match has so far broken hopes for the mineral agreement, which Trump and his allies had presented as an important step for Ukraine on the path of peace with Russia more than three years after the start of the war.
A White House official told NBC News that Trump and other US officials felt missing and asked Zelenskyy to leave the White House, saying that he was not welcome on Friday. Zelenskyy suddenly left and a joint press conference planned between the two leaders was canceled.
The exchange highlighted the tension that emerged between the United States and Ukraine – as well as many of its European allies – on the most difficult line that Trump has adopted to the country since its entry into office. (More things about what all of this means for Zelenskyy below.)
The role of Vance: As Notes Henry J. GomezIt is a commentary on Vance that sparked the unexpected, complete and high volume argument so that the world can look.
It was a sign of how Vance, who as a senator was known for his opposition to American aid for Ukraine, immediately asserted himself on foreign policy issues as vice-president. Earlier this month, Vance made waves at the Munich security conference with a speech that took other world leaders. And Thursday, the day before the entrance with Zelenskyy, Vance mixed him in an oval office meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer – although in a much lighter tone.
A familiar source with Trump’s meeting of the meeting of Trump said that there was no predetermined strategy for Vance to face Zelenskyy as he did. Vance, added the source, felt forced to answer after finding Zelenskyy unnecessarily provocative in his behavior.
“No one expected Zelenskyy to come there and act in law,” said this person, who added that the wait was that the oval office meeting would take place as a typical bilateral meeting.
How the Republicans react: GOP legislators have largely joined around Trump and Vance. Senator Lindsey Graham, Rs.C., who was a fervent supporter to help Ukraine, said that he did not know if Trump and Zelenskyy can “repair the damage” and resume peace talks.
“He needs to resign and send someone we can do business, either he must change,” Graham said of Zelenskyy.
However, some more moderate household republicans have taken a different tone. Rep. Don bacon, r-neb., told NBC News That the stormy exchange was “a bad day for American foreign policy”. Representative Mike Lawler, RN.Y., described the meeting of “failed opportunity“For the two countries and said” the only winner today is Vladimir Putin. “And the representative Brian Fitzpatrick, r-pa., Called the events of the day”heartbreakingAnd said the two parties should return to the negotiating table.
How Democrats react: Democrats universally criticized Trump and Vance, accusing them of walking in Putin. Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass., said during an interview on MSNBC It is “it is the beginning of the end. Putin not only begins to walk in Ukraine, but to walk throughout Europe. »»
A previous meeting on Friday between Zelenskyy and the senators was “very bipartite and very favorable,” said Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, Dr.I. Questioned in the racing tone in the oval office, Whitehouse said: “This is what you get to leave Vance in the room.”
The Zelenskyy dilemma exhibited in the Oval Office Clash
By Kristen Welker
The stormy confrontation between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the oval office have raised new questions about the prospects for peace in Ukraine. And he underlined the dilemma against Zelenskyy as he tried to end the three -year war of his country with Russia.
Zelenskyy tried to highlight the need for American support, while warning that Ukraine must be involved in peace negotiations and that Russian President Vladimir Putin cannot trust.
When I sat with Zelenskyy Earlier this monthHe clearly indicated that the issues are raised.
“It will be very, very, very difficult,” said Zelenskyy when asked if Ukraine could survive without American military support. “And, of course, in all difficult situations, you have a chance. But we will have a little chance, a little chance of surviving without support in the United States. »»
And the Ukrainian president seemed to choose his words carefully during our interview when he was asked if Trump was negotiating in good faith, saying, “I hope yes. Yes, I count on it. I count a lot on it.
But today, Zelenskyy was provocative, with tensions between him and Trump reaching a boiling point in the White House.
The confrontation has left more questions than answers on the way to peace in Ukraine. Will the United States still be involved in potential ceasefire negotiations? Can these discussions succeed if the United States is not involved? And could Ukraine lose the United States as an ally?
“I don’t want to think that we will not be strategic partners,” said Zelenskyy earlier this month. “I don’t want to think about it because it will put pressure on morale – the morality of Ukrainians and it will be the worst thing from the very beginning of the war.”
Today’s oval assignment also raises questions about the future of American alliances with its traditional European partners, many of which have gathered around Ukraine.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk expressed his solidarity with Ukraine in publications on social networks after the meeting. French president Emmanuel Macron said, “I think we were right to help Ukraine and sanction Russia three years ago, and continue to do so. And when I say “we”, I mean the United States of America, Europeans, Canadians, Japanese and many others. »»
We will explore all this and more on “Meet the Press” this Sunday with the president of the room Mike Johnson, R-La.; Senator Bernie Sanders, I-VT.; And Senator James Lankford, R-Okla.
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It’s all of the political bureau for the moment. Today’s newsletter was compiled by Adam Wollner, Bridget Bowman and Faith Wardwell.
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