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LAST UPDATE | 1 Mar 2025
VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY SAYS that his relations with the United States can still be repaired, in the wake of unprecedented scenes at the Oval Office when US President Donald Trump shouted at him in front of the world’s media and told him he was gambling with World War Three.
“Of course,” Zelensky said when asked in a Fox News interview if the relationship with Trump could be salvaged.
US-Ukrainian ties, he said, are about “more than two presidents”.
He said Ukraine badly needs Washington’s help in the fight against Russia. “It will be difficult without your support,” Zelensky added.
“I’m not sure that we did something bad,” he said in the interview, refusing to apologise. He said he wished the exchange had not taken place in front of reporters.
Yesterday’s summit was dramatically cut short with Zelenskyy leaving the White House after the leaders exchanged increasingly angry remarks in full glare of the media.
Trump and Vice President JD Vance repeatedly shouted at Zelenskyy during the encounter, accusing him of not being “thankful”.
Trump told the Ukrainian leader:
“You’re either going to make a deal or we’re out, and if we’re out, you’ll fight it out and I don’t think it’s going to be pretty.”
Zelenskyy departed shortly after the exchange and a planned press conference did not go ahead.
Trump later posted on social media that “he can come back when he is ready for peace”.
The US President also commented later that Zelenskyy was “overplaying his hand”.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who had been in the Oval Office for the row, told Fox News the Ukrainians “had to be told to leave the building”.
European leaders expressed solidarity with Ukraine, with French President Emmanuel Macron saying that if there was “an aggressor” in the war, it was Russia, and Germany’s foreign minister saying Europe was “united” behind Ukraine.
It was confirmed UK prime minister Keir Starmer had spoken to Trump and Zelenskyy following the heated meeting.
Starmer’s spokesperson said he retains unwavering support for Ukraine “and is doing all he can to find a path forward to a lasting peace based on sovereignty and security for Ukraine”.
Starmer is set to host Zelenskyy for a gathering of international leaders this weekend.
Micheál Martin responds to todays events in The White House #latelate pic.twitter.com/Q88Gb6JrS3
— The Late Late Show (@RTELateLateShow) February 28, 2025
Speaking on the Late Late Show the Taoiseach said the scenes in the White House were “quite extraordinary and very, very unsettling”.
Micheál Martin told host Patrick Kielty that the day was a “huge” setback for a truce in the Ukraine-Russia war.
The Fianna Fáil leader said that he has the “utmost admiration” for Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
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