Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy maintains that he needs aid from the United States to reach a peaceful resolution with Russia.
“Our meeting in Washington, at the White House on Friday, did not go the way it was supposed to be,” Zelenskyy said in a tweet on Tuesday, following up on his contentious meeting with President Donald Trump on Friday.
“It is regrettable that it happened this way,” he said. “It is time to make things right.”
Zelenskyy met with Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance in the Oval Office to talk about foreign affairs and efforts that can be made to end Ukraine and Russia’s 11-year war.
The conversations quickly turned heated, endangering relationships with some of the United States’ strongest allies. During the argument, Zelenskyy told Trump that the people of the United States would feel the economic aftermath of the Russian-Ukraine war.
“You have to be more thankful because you don’t have the cards,” Trump responded. “But without us, you don’t have any cards. It’s gonna be a tough deal to make because the attitudes have to change.”
Trump said he had spoken to other world leaders after the meeting to devise a plan to end the war.
The United States and Ukraine formed an alliance in 1991. In 2009, the United States bid for Ukraine to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization or NATO, which is committed to helping members against threats from other countries.
The Russia-Ukraine war began in 2014 with the Ukrainian Revolution and
separation from Russia. In 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine, escalating the war. NATO support is limited because Ukraine is not a member.
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said that Democrats stand with Ukraine.
“Congressional Democrats in both the House and the Senate will urge this breach is repaired and that we stand by the people of Ukraine for the good of the American people,” Jeffries said.
Trump and Russia’s President, Vladimir Putin, have been discussing a cease-fire with Ukraine. Trump has also threatened to place tariffs on Russian oil if they do not come to a resolution.
Ashley Johnson covers political issues for HUNewsService.com, including Congress.
