After the explosive dusting in front of the world’s eyes, both US President Donald Trump and his Ukrainian colleague Wolodymyr Selenskyj insist on their positions.
The unprecedented scandal at the meeting of the two in the White House could have dramatic consequences for the country attacked by Russia and cloud the view of an early peace.
In a TV interview after the incident in the Oval Office, Selenskyj made it clear that he did not want to apologize to Trump and continued to insist on security guarantees for a possible peace agreement with Russia that the Republican rejects. Trump, on the other hand, made it clear that he does not want to resume the talks with Selenskyj immediately.
Chief chief Vladimir Putin On the other hand, the open dispute between the USA and Ukraine is likely to be a satisfaction. He has been waging a war against the neighboring country for more than three years and has almost brought a fifth of the Ukrainian territory under his control.
Kiev, on the other hand, depends on the support of the West – and especially the USA – to ward off the attack. A peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine, which is particularly promoted by Trump, should not have become more likely after the heated confrontation between Selenskyj and Trump.
Meloni warns of splitting the West
An initiative by the Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni shows how big the concern in Europe is after the failed meeting in Washington. She suggested an immediate summit between Europe and the USA. “Every division of the West makes us all weaker and favored those who want to bring about the fall of our civilization,” warned Meloni.
It remains unclear whether the country attacked by Russia should take part in such a meeting. The right-wing prime minister is considered one of the most important contacts of the new US government in the group of European heads of government.
Trump expects Selenskyj peace message
The US President stood in front of the cameras a few hours after the scandal in the Oval Office. “It was not a man who wanted to make peace, and I am only interested if he wants to end the bloodshed,” said Trump shortly before departure to the US state of Florida. There he wants to spend the weekend in his estate Mar-A-Lago. “I now want a ceasefire.” Selenskyj “does not have the cards in hand”. He shouldn’t talk about Putin and all the “negative things”. “He has to say: I want peace.”
Selenskyj did not do this to the US President – on the contrary. In an FOX news interview, he thanked the American people, Trump and the Congress for the support-however, he rejected an apology to Trump. Instead, he emphasized that one had to be “very open and very honest”.
Selenskyj also tried to explain his position: a raw material deal between the United States and Ukraine alone is not enough to accept peace negotiations with Russia. Trump had linked US aid to access to Ukrainian raw materials – but after the dusting there was no agreement.
Selenskyj insists on old alliances
The Ukrainian President appealed: The US and Europe are the “best friends” of Ukraine, Putin and Russia of the enemy. This reality must be recognized.
His direct attitude had caused resentment in the Oval Office. Selenskyj later admitted the confrontation. But it is not about him personally, but about the question: “Where’s the friendship between Ukraine and the USA?” When leading US politicians claimed that Ukraine was facing the defeat that its soldiers are not heroes – and their president is a dictator.
Trump was also criticized in Ukraine. “Trump decided to do a thing together with a murderous tyrant than with a democratically elected state guide,” commented the “Kyiv Independent” news portal.
Allies stand behind Selenskyj
Selenskyj received broad support from his allies in Europe after the scandal. Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) assured that Ukraine could rely on Germany and Europe. Union Chancellor candidate Friedrich Merz said that the Ukraine is available in good times as in difficult times. “We must never confuse attackers and victims in this terrible war.” The EU foreign commissioner Kaja Kallas said: “Today it has become clear that the free world needs a new leader. It is up to us Europeans to accept this challenge.”
After Trump’s move into the White House, there are great concerns about the reliability of the United States as a partner in the West. US vice JD Vance duped its European partners at the Munich Security Conference a few weeks ago. And Trump had noticed in the past few weeks to talk Putin after his mouth.
Trump breaks again with conventions
At the same time, the Republican insulted Selenskyj and called them a dictator. Only shortly before the meeting – and with the view of the conclusion of the raw material agreement – the Republican moderated his tone. In negotiations with international partners, Trump is always noticeable with unconventional behavior and has already pushed up one or two guest during his first term.
Such an open argument with a partner in the White House peppered with degrees and open rejection is also unprecedented for Trump.
According to US media, Selenskyj and his companions are said to have been waiting in another room after the scandal in the Oval Office and hoped to be presented to the US President again. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Trump’s security advisor Mike Waltz are said to have made it clear to the Ukrainians that they would have to go now and that a further conversation with Trump was counterproductive, as reported by the broadcaster CBS.
Dispute between Trump and Selenskyj puts pressure on German politics
The escalation between the USA and Ukraine puts German politics under increased pressure in the transition period after the Bundestag election. Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) called for a quick European and national action in Berlin. “We cannot wait until the formation of a new federal government, because the situation is serious.” Accompanying the explorations of the Union and the SPD via a coalition, steps take a look to mobilize additional billions for defense.
Baerbock warned: “Germany has to take leadership on this historical path.” In the weeks of the transition, all democratic parties and a “closest vote” between the acting and future federal government are now in demand for this. After a first conversation on Friday, the CDU, CSU and SPD announced that the exploratory round should meet again after the Hamburg election on Sunday next week.
“New Time of Refloration”
Baerbock said again in horror that US President Donald Trump had covered Ukrainian head of state Wolodymyr Selenskyj in the White House in front of running cameras with severe allegations. “A new time of neforence has started,” said the minister and warned that nobody should be wrong in the enemy. “He sits alone in the Kremlin, not in Kiev or Brussels. We can never accept a perpetrator-victim reversal.”
Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) and CDU boss Friedrich Merz on the phone on Friday evening how the German press agency in Berlin was confirmed. First, the “Süddeutsche Zeitung” reported about it. Scholz will take part in a Ukraine conference in London this Sunday, and a special EU summit follows on Thursday.
Union faction vice Johann WadePhul told the “Tagesspiegel”: “Friedrich Merz is in contact with Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz, I with his security advisor Jens Plötner to coordinate the lines at their meetings in London and Brussels.”
“Fast a strong government”
Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier called up a rapid coalition formation in view of the scandal. The scene in the White House let him breathe. “I would never have believed that we would have to protect Ukraine from the USA,” he told the German Press Agency. “We have to prevent Ukraine from accepting a submission. That is why our country now needs a strong government.”
Among other things, Baerbock campaigned for a fundamental reform of the debt brake. A new special fund that is currently being discussed is the worse variant. “It does not help Ukraine and we cannot use it for all areas that are important for our defense.” This affects measures against threats in the cyber space.
Greens, SPD and Union for speed
Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck (Greens) told the “Spiegel”: “To secure the necessary support for Ukraine, we should now do what we can do at short notice.” First of all, an intended weapon package of three billion euros must be released so that Ukraine could order air defense, among other things. “There should be no delay here.”
The SPD foreign politician Michael Roth warned pace in the coalition formation. “We cannot wait until May a government,” he told the Editorial Network Germany. More money is quickly necessary for defense and security. “As an intermediate step, Germany has to set up a special fund without long. The fact that it has to be talked about afterwards about the debt brake is clear to everyone in view of the dramatic situation.”
Union faction vice WadePhul assumes that “the events in the Oval Office will significantly accelerate our exploratory and coalition talks”, as he said in the “Tagesspiegel”. On Deutschlandfunk he emphasized: “Political action in this historical hour must clearly set priority that we are capable of defense and that Europe is able to act.” The CDU politician added: “I do not know which instruments we will use exactly. We are talking about that now, but there are several.” You will probably have to adjust quickly in the household.
Baerbock demanded from EU summit Decisions for a comprehensive financial package for Ukraine and for massive investments in common defense ability. There should also be talk about a European defense fund. In particular with France, Great Britain and Poland, Germany should not only coordinate, but also take close steps. “No sheet can fit between us.”
British billion dollar aid for Ukraine from Russian fortune
The Ukrainian President wants to upgrade the army with the help of a British billion dollar loan. “The funds will flow into arms production in Ukraine,” Selenskyj wrote on the platform X. The loan will improve the defense capacities of Ukraine and be repaid with the income from frozen Russian assets. “This is true justice – the one who started the war also has to pay for it,” wrote Selenskyj.
The Great Britain and Ukraine governments had signed a contract on Saturday for a British loan of the equivalent of 2.74 billion euros, which is supposed to help with the defense against the attack by Russia. Previously, Selenskyj was received by the British Prime Minister Keir Strander at the seat of government in the London Downing Street.
Selenskyj thanked the British government for the “great support from the beginning of the war” and continued: “We are happy to have such strategic partners and share the same vision of what a safe future should look like for everyone.”
During the meeting, Strander had guaranteed his guest “unshakable support for Ukraine”. The United Kingdom will be at the side of Ukraine as long as it is necessary. Great Britain is one of the most important donors in Ukraine and supports the country at least until 2030/31 with military aids of the equivalent of over 3.5 billion euros per year.
/Sam/dp/e.g.
/Gei/dp/e.g.
Washington/Berlin/London (dpa-Afx)