Trump’s assessment of the Ukrainian president was a zigzag diplomacy exercise as their relationship has unfolded since Trump’s first term.
Zelensky, Trump and EU leaders meet at the White House for talks about Ukraine
Ukrainian President Zelenkie, Trump and the European leaders will meet in Washington on Monday to discuss ceasefires and peace efforts.
Washington – He has a bromance with Vladimir Putin. But President Donald Trump’s relationship with Voldymee Zelensky is more whipping than relatives.
Trump’s assessment of the Ukrainian president is a zigzag diplomacy practice, the moment he deposes him as a modest, successful comedian who doesn’t want peace, and the next minute he calls a nice guy with a good relationship.
“Did I say that?” Trump asked reporters in February when he reminded him that he had oc-chuckled Zelenkey as a dictator a week ago.
“I can’t believe I said that,” he cried.
He said that.
Zelensky returned to the White House on Monday, August 18th to discuss a potential peace deal to end Ukraine’s three and a half years of war with Russia. The visit marks his first setback since the disastrous oval office meeting in February when Trump begged him on live television and kicked him out of the White House grounds.
This time, Zelenskyy brought back to you. French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Kiel Starmer and other European leaders joined Zelensky at a White House meeting with Trump.
Trump is like Lampoon Him the Next relationship with Zelensky’s stand, in stark contrast to his relationship with Putin. Trump welcomed Russian leaders the red carpet to Alaska on August 15th, and welcomed the pageantry for a large but unresulting summit. The two leaders left the final frontier without a contract to end the war.
A history of Trump and Zelensky’s problems
Trump and Zelensky have a difficult history. It started with the phone that led to Trump’s first bounce each.
The two leaders led to July 2019, just three months after Zelensky rose from television comedian to Ukraine’s newly elected president. The call started well. According to a summary released by the White House, Trump congratulated Zelensky on his “big victory” and praised him for doing a great job.
But then Trump sought favor. He repeatedly put pressure on Zelenkie and resumed his investigation into Ukrainian energy companies, focusing on political rivals Joe Biden and Biden’s son, Hunter. At the time, Joe Biden was considered a potential presidential candidate, and in fact he will continue to beat Trump in the 2020 election.
Democrats said Trump’s request for foreign governments to investigate political rivals amounts to a terrible abuse of power. Trump was first fired off just a few months later, but was acquitted at a Senate trial.
Since then, Trump and Zelensky have never met their best conditions.
Trump has repeatedly argued that if Ukraine’s war with Russia was president, he could even appear to blame Zelensky for the conflict. However, it was Putin who began the war when he ordered the Russian army to infiltrate its Eastern European neighbors.
Trump also took Zelensky on missions on social media at a time when efforts to attack the peace deal were lacking.
“Think of that. The modestly successful comedian Voldymee Zelensky spoke to the United States of America to enter a war that he couldn’t win, to force the country to leave.”
A week later, Trump suggested he didn’t remember calling Zelenskyy a dictator, and insisted that it would work with Zelenskyy.
“I have a very good relationship with President Putin. I think I have a very good relationship with President Zelensky,” he said.
Mismatching full display in oval office
However, the next day, the discrepancy between them exploded in an epic way when Zelensky came to the oval office and the US came to the oval office to sign a contract to earn revenue from Ukrainian minerals in exchange for military aid.
As his temper burns, Zelensky told Trump that the ocean is currently separating the US from the conflict. “But you’ll feel that in the future.”
“You shouldn’t tell us what we’re trying to feel,” Trump shot. “We’re trying to solve the problem. Don’t tell us what we’re trying to feel.”
Trump laughs at Zelensky’s outfit, Vice President JD Vance calls him “disrespectful” and Trump kicks the Ukrainian president out of the White House without signing a mineral trade.
Trump later wrote on social media that Zelensky “is not ready for peace because he feels that our involvement will bring him a great advantage in negotiations if America is involved.” Trump said Zelensky “dismissed the United States in his precious oval office,” adding that “he can come back when peace is ready.”
Trump and Zelensky met again privately at Pope Francis’ funeral in Rome in April – the White House was called “productive” and again at the NATO summit in June.
When Trump arrived at the White House on Monday, August 18th, he greeted Zelensky with a handshake and said it was “honor” to get him back.
Michael Collins writes about the intersection of politics and culture. The veteran reporter covered the White House and Congress. Follow him on X @mcollinsNews.
Contributors: Francesca Chambers and Joey Garrison
