LONDON, March 2 (Reuters) - Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Sunday he believed he could salvage his relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump after their explosive meeting in the Oval Office, but that talks needed to continue behind closed doors.
In an extraordinary meeting that was broadcast live on Friday, Trump accused Zelenskiy of being ungrateful for U.S. aid, of showing disrespect to his country and of risking World War Three, casting into doubt Washington’s ongoing support for Ukraine.
Zelenskiy, talking to reporters after a summit with European leaders in London on Sunday, said he did not think the U.S. would stop its assistance to Ukraine, because as “leaders of the civilized world” they would not want to help Russian President Vladimir Putin.
However, Zelenskiy said he remained prepared for any challenges that may arise. “As regards to salvaging the relationship, I think our relationship will continue,” he told reporters via a translator after the London meeting.
But he added: “I do not think it’s right when such discussions are totally open. … The format of what happened, I don’t think it brought something positive or additional to us as partners.”
Zelenskiy added that he remained ready to sign the proposed minerals deal with the United States, and that he believed the U.S. would be ready as well.
Ugh, I can’t stand the thought of them signing this deal! I get so frustrated every time he entertains it. I don’t want to see them get screwed over while the US still benefits.
The only thing potentially positive is if signing actually gets real help sent there, and the US somehow gets sane people back in power that will repeal the deal or at least amend it more favorably because it was made through coercion.
The lack of a promise to actually send military aid though, plus the profiteering that usually happens when the US “helps” someone makes me really want Europe and friends to come through before he makes a deal with the US.
Zelensky should just promise Trump all profits from any mineral extraction done in Crimea or other occupied territories once reclaimed.
Ukraine loses nothing if the territory is not reclaimed, and the US gains nothing if the territory is not reclaimed.
I don’t know. It feels Trump is looking to profit off of that territory either way. I imagine the bigger prize is if Zelensky gives in, but even if Russia breaks him off just a slice of Crimean profits or some of his favorite beach front real estate to develop, I’m sure that’d be enough for him to screw over Ukraine.
I feel he’d definitely rather stay on Putin’s good side than Zelensky’s also. There’s a reason Putin is getting so much more of his time, and it shows which party he values more.
Almost the full 4 years of Trump are left, even though it feels like we’re so much further into it and that’s a lot of time for him to cause trouble or steal from Ukraine.
It’s not unreasonable for countries to ask for some small guarantees on trade if they prop ukraine up, especially when it’s do or die and it’s their help that allows a chance.
Nothing is free etc etc
Yes, but do you trust this administration to give a fair deal to Ukraine without exploitation? Turning Ukraine into another Haiti isn’t a great deal.
Also at the same time he’s promising Ukraine the deal of a lifetime, he’s making threats and economically bullying all America’s other allies while still trying to be buddies with Putin, Orban, and a bunch of other racists, authoritarians, and plutocrats. None of that screams trustworthy to me.
No, of course I don’t. Trump is dogshit.