US Secretary of State Marco Rubio believes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy should apologize after his heated exchange with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office. Rubio criticized Zelenskyy for mishandling the situation and turning it into a “fiasco.”
Tense Meeting Turns Into a Verbal Clash
On Friday, Zelenskyy met Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance at the White House. The discussion, meant to focus on Ukraine’s future and US support, quickly escalated. White House officials, journalists, and Ukrainian delegates witnessed the tense confrontation.
Speaking to CNN, Rubio blamed Zelenskyy for taking an aggressive stance. “There was no need for him to go in there and become antagonistic,” he said. He stressed that Trump wants to end the war by bringing Russia to the negotiating table.
Trump’s Plan for Ending the War
Rubio defended Trump’s approach to the conflict. He said Trump had always believed the war could have been prevented if he were in office earlier. “We’ve explained very clearly what our plan is here, which is we want to get the Russians to a negotiating table. We want to explore whether peace is possible,” Rubio explained.
He also criticized Ukraine for insisting on an in-person meeting in Washington. According to him, the deal they planned to sign could have been finalized days earlier. However, Zelenskyy and his team pushed for a face-to-face discussion, which eventually led to unnecessary tensions.
Zelenskyy Challenges US Diplomacy
The meeting started on a positive note, with Trump calling Zelenskyy a “great guy.” But things changed when Zelenskyy questioned the US strategy for handling Russia. His remarks frustrated Trump and Vance, leading to a heated exchange.
Vance accused Zelenskyy of “litigating” in front of the media and criticized him for associating with Democrats during the 2024 campaign. Trump, visibly angry, called Zelenskyy’s behavior “disrespectful.” He reminded the Ukrainian leader of America’s support and warned, “You don’t have the cards. You are either going to make a deal or we’re out, and if we are out, you will fight it out. I don’t think it’s going to be pretty.”
Failed Deal on Rare-Earth Minerals
The meeting was supposed to finalize a US-Ukraine agreement on rare-earth minerals. These minerals are crucial for manufacturing technology products. However, the rising tensions overshadowed the discussions, and the deal remained unsigned.
Rubio’s Final Thoughts
Rubio believes Zelenskyy’s actions hurt his country’s chances for peace. “You start to perceive that maybe Zelenskyy doesn’t want a peace deal,” he said. He added that the Ukrainian president’s approach had “actively undermined” diplomatic efforts.
The meeting, which could have strengthened US-Ukraine ties, instead ended in frustration. Now, questions remain about the future of US support and the path to peace.