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Happy Friday! For some reason, it is already the last day of February. Today’s edition will break down fallout at home and abroad from today’s White House meeting between Donald Trump, J.D. Vance and Volodymea Zelensky.
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– Adam Walner
The Elliptical Office Showdown Hears Around the World
The White House meeting, which aims to launch negotiations on deals over Ukraine’s rare earth minerals, announced this afternoon that President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance punished Ukraine’s Voldymee Zelensky, saying he is not fully grateful for the Rebecca Shabbard Eg Eg Woong report in the United States.
The cries of the oval office have for now shattered hope for the mineral trade, and Trump and his allies have presented it as an important step forward for Ukraine, which is on the road to peace with Russia more than three years after the war began.
White House officials told NBC News that Trump and other US officials felt disrespected and that Zelensky asked him to leave the White House, saying he was not welcomed on Friday. Zelenskyy left suddenly, and a planned joint press conference between the two leaders was cancelled.
The exchange highlights the tensions that have emerged between the US and Ukraine, and, together with many of its European allies, surpass the tougher boundaries that have been heading towards the country since Trump took office. (The following details on what this all means for Zelenskyy.)
Vance’s role: As Henry J. Gomez points out, it was a comment from Vance, which the world should see, sparked a full-blown, massive amount of debate.
It was a sign of Vance, known for his opposition to US aid to Ukraine as a senator. Earlier this month, Vance made waves at a security conference in Munich with a speech that keenly aims to leaders around the world. And on Thursday, the day before he was entangled with Zelenskyy, Vance mixed it up in an oval office meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, albeit in a much lighter tone.
Sources familiar with the Trump Conference’s plans said there was no pre-determined strategy for Vance to stand up to Zelensky. The source added Vance felt forced to respond after discovering that Zelensky was unnecessary provocative in his attitude.
“No one expected Zelensky to come there and take the title action,” the person said.
How Republicans are responding: GOP lawmakers have gathered largely around Trump and Vance. Senator Lindsey Graham, a stubborn supporter of supporting Ukraine, said he doesn’t know if Trump and Zelensky could “repair the damage” and resume peace talks.
“He needs to step down and send someone something we can do business with, or he needs to change,” Graham said of Zelensky.
But some medium-sized Republicans hit another tone. R-Neb. Rep. Don Bacon told NBC News that the fierce exchange was “a bad day for American foreign policy.” Rep. Mike Lawler (RN.Y.) called the meeting a “missed opportunity” between the two countries, saying “the only winner of today is Vladimir Putin.” And then R-Pa. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, a representative from the day, called the event “heartbreaking” and said both sides should return to the negotiation table.
How Democrats are responding: Democrats have universally denounced Trump and Vance, accusing them of how to defeat Putin. D-Mass. “This is the beginning of the end. Putin is not only walking through Ukraine, but also through Europe,” MP Seth Moulton said in an interview with MSNBC.
The previous meeting between Zelensky and the Senator on Friday was “very bipartisan and very supportive,” Senator Sheldon White House said. The White House was asked about the more insane tones in its oval office.
Follow the live update →
Zelenskyy’s dilemma on display at Oval Office Clash
By Kristen Welker
The fierce clash between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Voldy Zelensky in the oval office raised new questions about Ukraine’s prospects for peace. He then highlighted the dilemma Zelensky faces as he tries to end a three-year war with Russia.
Zelensky tried to highlight the need for US support, but warned that Ukraine must be involved in peace talks and that Russian President Vladimir Putin cannot be trusted.
When he sat down with Zelenskyy earlier this month, he made it clear that his stakes were high.
“It’s going to be very, very, very difficult,” Zelensky said when asked whether Ukraine could survive without US military support. “And of course, in all the difficult situations, you have a chance. But we have a low, low chance to survive without US support.”
And when asked if Trump was negotiating in good faith, it seemed he was carefully choosing his words during our interview. Yes, I rely on that. I rely so much on it. ”
But today Zelensky is rebellious, and tensions between him and Trump have reached a boiling point in the White House.
The conflict left more questions than answers about the path to advance for peace in Ukraine. Is the US still involved in potential ceasefire negotiations? If the US is not involved, can those talks be successful? And can Ukraine lose the United States as an ally?
“I don’t think we’re going to be strategic partners,” Zelensky told me earlier this month. “It puts pressure on morale, so I don’t want to think about it. It’s the morality of the Ukrainians, and it will be the worst thing from the beginning of the war.”
Today’s oval office conflict also raises questions about the future of US partnerships.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and Polish Prime Minister Donald Task expressed solidarity with Ukraine in a social media post after the meeting. French President Emmanuel Macron said: And when I say “we,” I mean the United States, Europeans, Canadians, Japanese and many more. ”
This Sunday, all of this on “Meet the Press” is on “Meet the Press,” by Mike Johnson, R-La. Senator Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. Senator James Lankford, R. Okra.
today’s other top stories
“Next: Trump is expected to sign an executive order aimed at making English the official language of the United States. Read More Read More Read More Read More → “In the state: Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed a bill striking gender identity from the Iowa Civil Rights Act, becoming the first nation to remove civil rights from previously protected classes. Read More → “In the United States, Oklahoma Republicans are clashing with proposals to ask public school districts for proof of citizenship before registering their children. Read More Read More Read More ‘Cruel.’ “Surreal'”: We spoke with dozens of federal employees who were fired as a result of Trump and Elon Musk’s efforts to significantly reduce the size of the government. This is what they had to say →
For now, it’s all from the political desk. Today’s newsletter was compiled by Adam Walner, Bridget Bowman and Faith Wardwell.
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