Washington, US — A heated exchange between former President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a recent Oval Office meeting has sparked concerns that the fallout could embolden Russian President Vladimir Putin. Sources close to the talks describe a tense confrontation, with Trump reportedly pressuring Zelenskyy to reconsider Ukraine’s military stance against Russia in exchange for unspecified assurances. Zelenskyy, steadfast in his defense of Ukraine’s sovereignty, rejected the overtures, leading to a bitter impasse.
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Analysts warn that the public rift—amplified by Trump’s subsequent comments dismissing Ukraine’s resistance as “unwinnable”—may signal disunity among Western allies, a narrative Putin has long exploited. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov seized the moment, calling the clash “predictable” and praising Trump’s “pragmatism” as a potential opening for Moscow’s interests.
The White House has downplayed the incident, with a spokesperson insisting that U.S. support for Ukraine remains “unshaken.” However, with Russia intensifying its eastern offensive, the timing of this discord could not be worse. Critics argue that Trump’s freelancing diplomacy has handed Putin a propaganda victory—and possibly more—at a critical juncture in the war.
On Monday, French President Emmanuel Macron met with Donald Trump to discuss plans for a potential European-led peacekeeping force in Ukraine, designed to deter future Russian aggression. The talks also aimed to persuade the former U.S. president to adopt a more cautious stance toward Vladimir Putin.
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