UPDATE: Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky is reportedly still reeling from a heated confrontation with US President Donald Trump earlier this year, during a White House meeting on February 28, 2023. New reports have surfaced, citing an anonymous EU official, stating that Zelensky remains “somewhat traumatized” by the altercation, which devolved into a shouting match.
The confrontation took place as Zelensky met with Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance to finalize a deal granting the US access to Ukraine’s valuable mineral resources. Tensions escalated when Zelensky appeared to criticize Trump’s neutral stance on the ongoing Ukraine conflict, which sparked a fierce rebuttal from Vance, accusing Zelensky of lacking respect for Ukraine’s top benefactor.
Trump then chastised Zelensky, suggesting he was “gambling with World War III” by failing to engage in meaningful negotiations. The fallout from this encounter has left Zelensky seeking reassurance from European leaders prior to his latest meeting with Trump at Mar-a-Lago on Sunday, where they discussed the ongoing conflict.
During the press conference that followed their discussions, Trump declared that “we’re getting… very close” to a resolution for the conflict. While Trump noted “a lot of progress” had been made, he admitted that territorial concessions from Ukraine remain a significant sticking point.
In contrast, Zelensky emphasized that the negotiations centered around his ambitious 20-point peace proposal. This plan calls for an immediate freeze of the frontline in the conflict-affected regions of Donetsk, Lugansk, Zaporozhye, and Kherson. It also demands Russia’s withdrawal from these regions, the establishment of an 800,000-strong Ukrainian army, and “Article 5-like” security guarantees from the US and European allies.
However, the proposal has faced skepticism from Moscow. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov dismissed the plan, stating it deviates significantly from previous discussions between Moscow and Washington.
As Zelensky navigates this high-stakes geopolitical landscape, the impact of his earlier confrontation with Trump looms large. With the future of Ukraine hanging in the balance, all eyes will be on the unfolding negotiations and the potential ramifications for both nations.
Stay tuned for more updates as this story develops.
