Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy met ahead of Trump’s meeting with Putin this week in Budapest, with the future of the war between Russia and Ukraine on the line
Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy sat down ahead of the US President’s meeting with Vladimir Putin this week – but not all went as planned. According to reports, their negotiations ended in a “shouting match”.
The pair discussed peace as Trump aims to end the ongoing war on Ukraine. Previously, meetings with the world leaders ended with insults and shouting matches – with no deals being reached. Apparently, the latest went much the same way, with all eyes on Hungary as Trump and Putin will meet in Budapest at some point this week.
But whether Ukraine will receive all their land back is yet to be seen. Here are five bombshells from Trump and Zelenskyy’s meeting.
The ‘shouting match’
The US President publicly called on Kyiv and Moscow to “stop where they are” and end their brutal war following a lengthy White House meeting with Zelenskyy on Friday.
The Financial Times reported that Trump was “cursing all the time” during the meeting which often became a “shouting match”.
Trump’s blame has shifted back and forth between Ukraine and Russia, with the president recently threatening Russia with more harsh tariffs. However, it now appears Trump has redirected his fury towards Ukraine, after previously saying the country could get all its territories back in a peace deal.
Russia will ‘destroy’ Ukraine
Trump warned Zelenskyy that Russia would “destroy” Ukraine if he didn’t agree to Russia’s terms.
According to reports, Trump wanted Zelenskyy to give up the whole Donbas region although in the end they agreed that the US would back a freeze on the current frontlines. Trump also suggested to Zelenskyy that he’s not sure he wants to sell him long-range Tomahawk missiles, weaponry that the Ukrainians believe could be a game changer in helping prod Putin to the negotiating table.
A European official at the meeting claimed that Trump told Zelenskyy he needed to agree a deal or face destruction. He stated: “If [Putin] wants it, he will destroy you.”
Trump withdrawing missiles
The president previously said he wanted to sell Kyiv the Tomahawk cruise missiles. But Trump said he was hesitant to tap into the US supply.
This is a sharp turn from his previous claims, as Trump even warned to send them as a threat to Russia.
“I have an obligation also to make sure that we’re completely stocked up as a country, because you never know what’s going to happen in war and peace,” Trump said publicly. “We’d much rather have them not need Tomahawks. We’d much rather have the war be over to be honest.”
Trump’s fury
At one point Trump is also said to have thrown a map of the frontline on the table saying he was “sick” of the war. Trump has gone back and forth over his support, and said: “This red line, I don’t even know where this is. I’ve never been there.”
This is in regards to Ukraine’s reluctance to give up invaded regions in peace deals.
The next steps
Ahead of Trump and Putin’s meeting this week, the US president has shed some light on his current views. After the more than two hour meeting, Trump took to social media and said: “Enough blood has been shed, with property lines being defined by War and Guts. They should stop where they are. Let both claim Victory, let History decide!”
Later at his Florida weekend getaway, Trump urged both sides to “stop the war immediately” and suggested that Moscow could keep territory it’s taken from Kyiv.
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