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The biggest diplomatic disaster/ The Guardian: Trump and Vance team up to bully Ukraine's leader

2025-03-01 08:18:15Pikëpamje SHKRUAR NGA DAVID SMITH
Zelensky, Trump and Vance

David Smith – The Guardian

“This is going to be a great show on television,” Donald Trump said at the end. Of course. Even the captain of the Titanic probably assured his passengers that what was happening would make a great movie one day.

Trump had just presided over one of the greatest diplomatic disasters in modern history. Tempers flared, voices rose, and protocol was torn to shreds in what was once the sacred Oval Office. When Trump got into a shouting match with Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy, a horrified Europe watched as the post-World War II order crumbled before its eyes.

Never before has a U.S. president bullied and criticized an opponent, let alone an ally, in such a public way. Of course, the reality TV star and sports fan turned U.S. president had it all on television for the benefit of his populist support base and to make those in the Kremlin proud.

Zelenskyy had come to the White House to sign a deal for US involvement in Ukraine’s mineral industry, paving the way for an end to a three-year war with Russia. There was a hint when he arrived in the West Wing, dressed in black, not a suit, and Trump greeted him with a handshake and a sarcastic: “Wow, look, you’re all dressed up!”

Inside the Oval Office, which has seen a lot but never anything like this, Zelenskyy thanked Trump for the invitation. At first, everything was sweet and general until they started fielding questions from reporters.

There was also a small critique about how much support Europe has given Ukraine, which ended with a smile, a playful but sharp jab at Zelenskyy until it came to the ominous word uttered by Trump: "Don't argue with me."

The last 10 minutes of the nearly 45-minute meeting were spent in acrimony and chaos. Zelenskyy found himself ambushed by Trump and his snarky vice president, JD Vance. The latter was expected to sit and listen, but he refused.

Vance said Joe Biden's approach had failed and that diplomacy was the way forward. Zelenskyy challenged "JD" on this, pointing to past violations of agreements made with Russia.

Vance, who has previously said he doesn't care what happens in Ukraine, was annoyed. He told Zelenskyy, raising a finger: "Mr. President, with respect. I think it's disrespectful for you to come to the Oval Office to try to discuss this in front of the American media."

Uh-oh. The politicians and journalists in the room could probably tell this was going off the rails. At one point the Ukrainian ambassador put her hands on her head. She was all of us.

Zelenskyy tried to backtrack, asking if Vance had ever been to Ukraine. Vance got angry and spoke of “propaganda tours.” Zelenskyy tried to respond, but Trump intervened: “Don’t tell us what to feel.”

The men argued with each other. Raising their voices, the president said, “You don’t have the cards now.”

Zelenskyy replied: “I am not playing cards.”

Trump, pointing an accusing finger and showing his worst side in the presidential debates, warned: “You are gambling with the lives of millions of people. You are gambling with World War III, and what you are doing is very disrespectful to the country, this country that has supported you far more than many people say they should have.”

One caveat: Trump has spent so many campaign rallies warning of World War III that the phrase has lost its shock value.

Trump and Vance tried to scold Zelenskyy as an ungrateful child. Vance, who recently went to Munich to criticize Europe as being on the wrong side in the culture wars, demanded: “Have you ever said ‘thank you’?”

Zelenskyy tried to respond. Trump told him his country was in big trouble. He continued: “The problem is, I empowered you to be a tough guy, and I don’t think you would be a tough guy without the United States, and your people are very brave. But, you either make a deal or we’re out.”

“And if we’re out, you’re going to be fighting alone and I don’t think it’s going to be pretty… But you’re not grateful at all and that’s not a good thing.”

Zelenskyy looked shocked and Trump said what a great show it would be.

No agreement was reached and a planned press conference was canceled.

Zelenskyy left empty-handed, having just endured his own diplomatic Chernobyl. As for the rest of Europe, a bust of Winston Churchill looming over Trump and Vance's shoulders might have shed a tear or two.


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