Putin's Allies Celebrate After Tense Meeting Between Trump and Zelensky at the White House
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Synopsis
Tensions escalated during a meeting at the White House where US President Trump confronted Ukrainian leader Zelensky, leading to celebrations among Russian state media and Putin's allies. Trump's strong remarks about the Ukraine conflict were met with mixed reactions as the situation unfolds.
Key Takeaways
- Trump accused Zelensky of being disrespectful during their meeting.
- Russian officials viewed the meeting as a victory for Putin.
- The exchange raised concerns about the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.
- European leaders support Zelensky, while some, like Orban, praised Trump.
- Speculation arises around potential provocations by Zelensky.
Moscow, March 1 (NationPress) Russian state media and supporters of Russian President Vladimir Putin celebrated after US President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance confronted Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky during a meeting at the White House on Friday.
Zelensky's visit coincided with rising tensions regarding Trump's attempts to broker a ceasefire in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.
During this meeting, Trump accused Zelensky of being "disrespectful," asserting, "You have no right to dictate what we should feel. You are gambling with World War III."
"I have empowered you to be a tough guy. You either make a deal, or we're out. You don't have the cards," Trump remarked.
This exchange incited anger among American observers but was quickly hailed by Russian media outlets and Putin's allies.
Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy head of the Russian Security Council and former President, commented on Telegram that Trump had delivered a "strong slap on the wrist" to Ukraine.
"For the first time, Trump told the cocaine clown the truth to his face: the Kyiv regime is playing with the third world war. And the ungrateful pig received a strong slap on the wrist from the owners of the pigsty. This is useful. But it's not enough – we must stop military aid to the Nazi machine," Medvedev stated.
He affirmed that Trump is correct about the Kyiv regime "gambling with WWIII".
The state-run media outlet RT described the Trump-Zelensky meeting as a reprimand, noting, "Zelensky sits with hands between legs as US President and VP hammer him."
Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, remarked on the restraint shown by Trump and Vice-President Vance during their confrontation with Zelensky.
"I think Zelensky's biggest lie of all his lies was his assertion in the White House that the Kyiv regime in 2022 was alone, without support," she stated on Telegram.
Kiril Dmitriev, head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, labeled the intense exchange in the Oval Office as "historic" on social media.
Dmitriev previously participated as one of Moscow's negotiators in discussions held on February 18 in Saudi Arabia.
While European leaders rallied in support of Volodymyr Zelensky, Viktor Orban, Hungary's Prime Minister known for his pro-Russian stance, expressed gratitude towards Trump.
Orban stated that Trump bravely advocated for peace, even if it was challenging for many to accept.
"Strong men make peace, weak men make war," Orban wrote on social media.
Yevgeny Primakov, head of Russia's Agency for International Humanitarian Cooperation, suggested that Zelensky is interested in provocations that could lead to mass casualties following the confrontation with Trump.
"Everyone saw everything. I would just draw attention to what is in the nature of the Kyiv regime: provocations, bloody provocations. Right now Zelensky and his associates are interested in provocations leading to mass deaths of peaceful civilians, maybe like never before," he stated on Telegram.
According to Primakov, Kyiv has limited options to salvage its reputation.
"To spill a lot of innocent blood at once and then blame it on Russia is one of the easiest ones," he remarked.
The official also did not dismiss the possibility of staged incidents.
"They really need it now. And so do the Brits," he added.
Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesperson, emphasized Russia's desire to foster dialogue with all nations, including the US, based on mutual respect and benefit, prior to the Trump-Zelensky meeting.
"We want to build dialogue not only with the US, but with all countries from a position of mutual respect and mutual benefit," Peskov stated when questioned about engaging with Trump, who is often criticized for communicating with everyone from a standpoint of strength.
The Kremlin spokesperson disagreed with the notion of forming cooperation solely from the perspective of truth, which can vary for different people.
Earlier that Friday, Zelensky had a meeting with Trump at the White House. Their televised discussion, attended by reporters, devolved into a heated exchange, with Trump chastising Zelensky for his perceived disrespect towards the US. Vice-President J.D. Vance remarked that Zelensky had never expressed gratitude for the support extended to Kyiv. A subsequent news conference was canceled, and Trump posted a statement on Truth Social, admonishing Zelensky for his disrespectful behavior and unpreparedness for peace.
