UPDATED
After fiery Trump-Zelensky spat, what next for Ukraine?
AFP
March 1, 2025
'Absolutely unconscionable': Ex-Republican demands Trump removed from office after fight
The fiery altercation between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House on Friday was shocking but not entirely unexpected, analysts say, with the way forward for Kyiv looking increasingly uncertain.
US President Trump has long been a critic of the United States's billions in aid for Ukraine after Russia invaded it in February 2022, and had promised -- without providing details -- to end the war soon after coming to office.
On February 12, he spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin, appearing to start peace negotiations without involving Ukraine -- a move that angered Kyiv and shocked European capitals.
Since then, Zelensky and Washington's European allies have appealed for Trump to provide security guarantees for any truce, in order to ensure there are consequences if either side breaks it.
Trump, however, has refused to say if he would provide such guarantees, insisting Putin "respects" him enough not to break any deal.
On Friday, tensions erupted after Trump and his vice president, JD Vance, accused Zelensky of not being "thankful" enough for US support.
"He can come back when he is ready for peace," said Trump, with his press secretary adding that the Ukrainian leader and his entourage were asked to leave the White House after the Oval Office clash.
Brian Finucane, a senior adviser at the International Crisis Group (ICG), said Friday's meeting was always likely to be tense.
"The performance by the President and Vice President in the Oval Office was unprecedented, but not altogether surprising given President Trump's well-known feelings about US military support to Ukraine and the narrative about Russia's war on Ukraine which he has promoted," he said.
When asked, Trump and those in his administration have repeatedly refused to place responsibility on Moscow for starting the war.
On Friday, Trump appeared to imply that he was not criticizing Putin because negotiations were ongoing.
- 'Bound to happen' -
Ukrainian political analyst Volodymyr Fesenko told AFP there was a long list of US actions under Trump that indicated such a rupture was on the horizon.
He ticked off reasons including US pressure on Ukraine, the way American officials describe Zelensky, Washington's assessment of the Ukraine-Russia conflict and the country's attitude toward truce negotiations.
"All this shows that this rupture, this explosion, was bound to happen sooner or later," he said.
What comes next is unclear, but it could augur badly for Ukraine, said ICG's Finucane.
"There are rumors from the administration that it may curtail arms shipments to Ukraine currently in the pipeline under presidential drawdown authority," he said.
Those arms shipments were approved by former US president Joe Biden as he was leaving office, in what appeared an attempt to cement billions in additional aid before Trump took office.
Speaking to Fox News after the tense White House meeting, Zelensky conceded it would be "difficult" for Ukraine to hold off invading Russian forces without US support.
He added, however, that he believed Kyiv's relationship with Washington could be salvaged -- but that he wanted Trump to be "really more on our side."
In Europe, Friday's developments were seen with alarm, with a number of EU powers -- including France, Germany and Britain -- quick to reiterate their support for Ukraine.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas delivered an even stronger statement, appearing to question American leadership of the transatlantic alliance between European powers and Washington.
"Today, it became clear that the free world needs a new leader. It's up to us, Europeans, to take this challenge," she wrote on social media.
More than a dozen European leaders are due to meet in London on Sunday to discuss the war in Ukraine.
A special European summit devoted to Ukraine has also been called for March 6 by European Council President Antonio Costa.
AFP
March 1, 2025
'Absolutely unconscionable': Ex-Republican demands Trump removed from office after fight
The fiery altercation between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House on Friday was shocking but not entirely unexpected, analysts say, with the way forward for Kyiv looking increasingly uncertain.
US President Trump has long been a critic of the United States's billions in aid for Ukraine after Russia invaded it in February 2022, and had promised -- without providing details -- to end the war soon after coming to office.
On February 12, he spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin, appearing to start peace negotiations without involving Ukraine -- a move that angered Kyiv and shocked European capitals.
Since then, Zelensky and Washington's European allies have appealed for Trump to provide security guarantees for any truce, in order to ensure there are consequences if either side breaks it.
Trump, however, has refused to say if he would provide such guarantees, insisting Putin "respects" him enough not to break any deal.
On Friday, tensions erupted after Trump and his vice president, JD Vance, accused Zelensky of not being "thankful" enough for US support.
"He can come back when he is ready for peace," said Trump, with his press secretary adding that the Ukrainian leader and his entourage were asked to leave the White House after the Oval Office clash.
Brian Finucane, a senior adviser at the International Crisis Group (ICG), said Friday's meeting was always likely to be tense.
"The performance by the President and Vice President in the Oval Office was unprecedented, but not altogether surprising given President Trump's well-known feelings about US military support to Ukraine and the narrative about Russia's war on Ukraine which he has promoted," he said.
When asked, Trump and those in his administration have repeatedly refused to place responsibility on Moscow for starting the war.
On Friday, Trump appeared to imply that he was not criticizing Putin because negotiations were ongoing.
- 'Bound to happen' -
Ukrainian political analyst Volodymyr Fesenko told AFP there was a long list of US actions under Trump that indicated such a rupture was on the horizon.
He ticked off reasons including US pressure on Ukraine, the way American officials describe Zelensky, Washington's assessment of the Ukraine-Russia conflict and the country's attitude toward truce negotiations.
"All this shows that this rupture, this explosion, was bound to happen sooner or later," he said.
What comes next is unclear, but it could augur badly for Ukraine, said ICG's Finucane.
"There are rumors from the administration that it may curtail arms shipments to Ukraine currently in the pipeline under presidential drawdown authority," he said.
Those arms shipments were approved by former US president Joe Biden as he was leaving office, in what appeared an attempt to cement billions in additional aid before Trump took office.
Speaking to Fox News after the tense White House meeting, Zelensky conceded it would be "difficult" for Ukraine to hold off invading Russian forces without US support.
He added, however, that he believed Kyiv's relationship with Washington could be salvaged -- but that he wanted Trump to be "really more on our side."
In Europe, Friday's developments were seen with alarm, with a number of EU powers -- including France, Germany and Britain -- quick to reiterate their support for Ukraine.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas delivered an even stronger statement, appearing to question American leadership of the transatlantic alliance between European powers and Washington.
"Today, it became clear that the free world needs a new leader. It's up to us, Europeans, to take this challenge," she wrote on social media.
More than a dozen European leaders are due to meet in London on Sunday to discuss the war in Ukraine.
A special European summit devoted to Ukraine has also been called for March 6 by European Council President Antonio Costa.
'Not ready for peace': Trump cancels Zelenskyy press conference, minerals deal not signed
Chairs stand empty at the site of the planned agreement signing and press conference, which was cancelled as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy departed the White House following a fiery Oval Office meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 28, 2025. REUTERS/Brian Snyder
David Badash
After his Oval Office “ambush” in which he berated Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on national television, President Donald Trump escalated his attacks on the U.S. ally by canceling a scheduled joint press conference and later declaring President Zelenskyy does not want peace. Zelenskyy did not sign the rare earth minerals deal Trump desperately sought.
While some reported the talks as ending in a “shouting match,” it appeared only President Trump and his Vice President, JD Vance, were actually shouting.
“It’s amazing what comes out through emotion,” Trump said in a statement, “and I have determined that President Zelenskyy is not ready for Peace if America is involved, because he feels our involvement gives him a big advantage in negotiations.”
Trump appeared to suggest that Zelenskyy wanted to continue to defend his country against Vladimir Putin’s illegal war, because the U.S. is sufficiently supplying Ukraine with weapons. Trump repeatedly during the campaign last year insisted he would end the war in one day.
“I don’t want advantage, I want PEACE,” Trump claimed in his statement. “He disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office. He can come back when he is ready for Peace.”
Zelensky was “attacked” the Paris-based international news agency AFP reported.
“Candidate Trump said he would end this war on or before day one. Now what?” asked NBC News Senior White House Correspondent Garrett Haake, in response to Trump’s statement.
“How dare Trump and Vance disgrace the Oval Office by using it to bully a democracy sacrificing immensely to save its people and sovereignty from a brutal aggressor,” asked Center for International Policy Vice President for Government Affair Dylan Williams. “You have disrespected and betrayed not just Ukrainians, but generations of Americans who fought for democracy.”
Karl Rove, the well-known Bush 43 senior advisor and campaign chief strategist blasted Trump.
This is why diplomacy should never be conducted in public,” Rove told Fox News. “But the only winner out of today is Vladimir Putin. This is a mistake to have it broadcast. It is a mistake for Zelenskyy to get his dander up. And it was a mistake for the president and vice president to be so public in their comments. This was not the moment that should have been televised.”
Watch the video below or at this link.
Chairs stand empty at the site of the planned agreement signing and press conference, which was cancelled as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy departed the White House following a fiery Oval Office meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 28, 2025. REUTERS/Brian Snyder
David Badash
NEW CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT
February 28, 2025
After his Oval Office “ambush” in which he berated Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on national television, President Donald Trump escalated his attacks on the U.S. ally by canceling a scheduled joint press conference and later declaring President Zelenskyy does not want peace. Zelenskyy did not sign the rare earth minerals deal Trump desperately sought.
While some reported the talks as ending in a “shouting match,” it appeared only President Trump and his Vice President, JD Vance, were actually shouting.
“It’s amazing what comes out through emotion,” Trump said in a statement, “and I have determined that President Zelenskyy is not ready for Peace if America is involved, because he feels our involvement gives him a big advantage in negotiations.”
Trump appeared to suggest that Zelenskyy wanted to continue to defend his country against Vladimir Putin’s illegal war, because the U.S. is sufficiently supplying Ukraine with weapons. Trump repeatedly during the campaign last year insisted he would end the war in one day.
“I don’t want advantage, I want PEACE,” Trump claimed in his statement. “He disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office. He can come back when he is ready for Peace.”
Zelensky was “attacked” the Paris-based international news agency AFP reported.
“Candidate Trump said he would end this war on or before day one. Now what?” asked NBC News Senior White House Correspondent Garrett Haake, in response to Trump’s statement.
“How dare Trump and Vance disgrace the Oval Office by using it to bully a democracy sacrificing immensely to save its people and sovereignty from a brutal aggressor,” asked Center for International Policy Vice President for Government Affair Dylan Williams. “You have disrespected and betrayed not just Ukrainians, but generations of Americans who fought for democracy.”
Karl Rove, the well-known Bush 43 senior advisor and campaign chief strategist blasted Trump.
This is why diplomacy should never be conducted in public,” Rove told Fox News. “But the only winner out of today is Vladimir Putin. This is a mistake to have it broadcast. It is a mistake for Zelenskyy to get his dander up. And it was a mistake for the president and vice president to be so public in their comments. This was not the moment that should have been televised.”
Watch the video below or at this link.
'Sick to my stomach': Republican senator stuns with 'rare GOP rebuke' of latest Trump move
David McAfee
March 1, 2025
RAW STORY
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK). (Official photo)
Most Republican lawmakers are either supporting Donald Trump or staying silent, but one decided to stand up Saturday.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), who has been a thorn in Trump's side at times but has sided with him in other instances, took to social media over the weekend to declare Trump is cozying up to Putin.
"This week started with administration officials refusing to acknowledge that Russia started the war in Ukraine," Murkowski said. "It ends with a tense, shocking conversation in the Oval Office and whispers from the White House that they may try to end all U.S. support for Ukraine."
She then added, "I know foreign policy is not for the faint of heart, but right now, I am sick to my stomach as the administration appears to be walking away from our allies and embracing Putin, a threat to democracy and U.S. values around the world."
Democratic strategist Matt McDermott said, "You’re entirely correct. Do something about it."
Democratic insider Brian Goldsmith said, "If only there were something she could do about this."
Attorney and TV legal analyst Jeffrey Evan Gold replied, "Consider who you voted for to control the levers of power in Trump's government. It will not end well."
Pro-Trump influencer Catturd said, "Lisa Murkowski has made us all sick at our stomachs for years. Listening to her and looking at her."
Politico described the senator's statement as a "rare" GOP rebuke.
David McAfee
March 1, 2025
RAW STORY
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK). (Official photo)
Most Republican lawmakers are either supporting Donald Trump or staying silent, but one decided to stand up Saturday.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), who has been a thorn in Trump's side at times but has sided with him in other instances, took to social media over the weekend to declare Trump is cozying up to Putin.
"This week started with administration officials refusing to acknowledge that Russia started the war in Ukraine," Murkowski said. "It ends with a tense, shocking conversation in the Oval Office and whispers from the White House that they may try to end all U.S. support for Ukraine."
She then added, "I know foreign policy is not for the faint of heart, but right now, I am sick to my stomach as the administration appears to be walking away from our allies and embracing Putin, a threat to democracy and U.S. values around the world."
Democratic strategist Matt McDermott said, "You’re entirely correct. Do something about it."
Democratic insider Brian Goldsmith said, "If only there were something she could do about this."
Attorney and TV legal analyst Jeffrey Evan Gold replied, "Consider who you voted for to control the levers of power in Trump's government. It will not end well."
Pro-Trump influencer Catturd said, "Lisa Murkowski has made us all sick at our stomachs for years. Listening to her and looking at her."
Politico described the senator's statement as a "rare" GOP rebuke.
'Two losers on barstools': CNN conservative pounds Trump and Vance for embarrassing the US
Tom Boggioni
March 1, 2025
RAW STORY
S.E. Cupp, Abby Phillip (CNN screenshot)
A furious S.E. Cupp unloaded on Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance over their "disgusting" treatment of Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office on Friday that shocked the world.
On Saturday morning, CNN host Abby Phillip shared clips of Trump and his veep haranguing and threatening the leader of the wartorn nation for not being grateful enough to them.
Then Cupp, the conservative host of "Battleground," flipped out on the pair over their embarrassing antics that has set off a wave of renewed international support for Ukraine.
"So this bootlicking performance in the White House by our public servants, our top public servants, acting like they own the place," Cupp began. "This is what it looked like to me: two losers on barstools acting like they own the bar telling anyone who comes in, 'You've got to go through us first and you've got to give me some flattery first.'"
"It was disgusting, this is not diplomacy this isn't foreign policy, this is thuggery," she added. "And I got to tell you, our allies are scared and our enemies are laughing."
You can watch below or at the link.
Tom Boggioni
March 1, 2025
RAW STORY
S.E. Cupp, Abby Phillip (CNN screenshot)
A furious S.E. Cupp unloaded on Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance over their "disgusting" treatment of Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office on Friday that shocked the world.
On Saturday morning, CNN host Abby Phillip shared clips of Trump and his veep haranguing and threatening the leader of the wartorn nation for not being grateful enough to them.
Then Cupp, the conservative host of "Battleground," flipped out on the pair over their embarrassing antics that has set off a wave of renewed international support for Ukraine.
"So this bootlicking performance in the White House by our public servants, our top public servants, acting like they own the place," Cupp began. "This is what it looked like to me: two losers on barstools acting like they own the bar telling anyone who comes in, 'You've got to go through us first and you've got to give me some flattery first.'"
"It was disgusting, this is not diplomacy this isn't foreign policy, this is thuggery," she added. "And I got to tell you, our allies are scared and our enemies are laughing."
You can watch below or at the link.
Conservative sets off CNN squabble with Zelensky 'shake America down' accusation
Tom Boggioni
March 1, 2025
RAW STORY
S.E. Cupp, Melik Abdul (CNN screenshot
A conservative panelist on CNN's "Table for Five" set off an uproar on Saturday morning after he accused Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky of taking advantage of the United States.
During a discussion on the contentious Oval Office meeting between Zelensky, Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance, where the U.S. leaders berated the leader of the wartorn nation, GOP strategist and member of "Black Americans for Trump" Melik Abdul unsurprisingly sided with the U.S. president.
Sitting next to fellow conservative S.E. Cupp, who earlier characterized Trump and Vance as "Two losers on barstools" due to their boorish behavior, Abdul stated, "This isn't the first time that Zelensky has seemed to kind of shake America down," which caused host Abby Phillip to repeat incredulously, "Shake America down?"
"When you come before the United States of America in the Oval Office, then you need to show––," he continued until the eye-rolling Cupp sarcastically interrupted, "Where there is so much decorum."
After it was pointed out the way in which Elon Musk has presented himself before the press in the same room, Abdul attempted, "You come on there being disrespectful and you are going to find out the response to it and he was disrespectful. That is what he was, disrespectful and J.D. Vance was right to call him out."
Watch below or at the link.
Tom Boggioni
March 1, 2025
RAW STORY
S.E. Cupp, Melik Abdul (CNN screenshot
A conservative panelist on CNN's "Table for Five" set off an uproar on Saturday morning after he accused Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky of taking advantage of the United States.
During a discussion on the contentious Oval Office meeting between Zelensky, Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance, where the U.S. leaders berated the leader of the wartorn nation, GOP strategist and member of "Black Americans for Trump" Melik Abdul unsurprisingly sided with the U.S. president.
Sitting next to fellow conservative S.E. Cupp, who earlier characterized Trump and Vance as "Two losers on barstools" due to their boorish behavior, Abdul stated, "This isn't the first time that Zelensky has seemed to kind of shake America down," which caused host Abby Phillip to repeat incredulously, "Shake America down?"
"When you come before the United States of America in the Oval Office, then you need to show––," he continued until the eye-rolling Cupp sarcastically interrupted, "Where there is so much decorum."
After it was pointed out the way in which Elon Musk has presented himself before the press in the same room, Abdul attempted, "You come on there being disrespectful and you are going to find out the response to it and he was disrespectful. That is what he was, disrespectful and J.D. Vance was right to call him out."
Watch below or at the link.
'That boy ain't right': Dem strategist questions Trump's mental state after Zelensky clash
Tom Boggioni
March 1, 2025
Tom Boggioni
March 1, 2025
RAW STORY
After watching Donald Trump rant and rage at Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky during a nationally televised press availability on Friday afternoon, longtime Democratic strategist James Carville admitted he couldn't stay silent.
In a video posted to YouTube, the always outspoken liberal from Louisiana suggested we may again be watching another example of the president's cognitive decline.
Sitting in his home, Carville expressed alarm about the president's combative stance with Zelensky who has been leading his country's fight with Russia following an unprovoked invasion 3 years ago.
As he explained, "It’s stunning –– I think anybody who watched it saw it and I’m torn for an explanation, but there’s something clear. There’s an expression here in south Louisiana. It’s not totally true, but it’s you mostly hear it from Black people, and they’ll say, ‘that boy ain’t right.’"
"And it’ll be somebody obviously having some kind of a personality disorder or whatever. But when you look at Trump, the first thing that comes to your mind is, that boy ain’t right," he added.
He later went further afield suggesting Trump is on the throes of "madness" while also citing a possible "accumulation of age" as a possibility.
"I’m just asking questions, but what you saw is madness. And I don’t mean madness, like I’m mad at you, you’re mad at me. I’m not saying that," he elaborated. "I’m talking about madness like a King George III kind of madness. And it could be a combination of being a fat f--king slob, which he is. It could be that he can’t sleep at night because his beached whale body can’t allow the circulation it needs."
"I don’t know. I don’t know, I’m not a sleep specialist or a medical doctor but I think we should revisit the possibility of a syphilis diagnosis," he conceded.
"My question is this," he stated. "Could this dramatic event, this deterioration, this unlike any other event in history, could there be a scientific explanation for why it happened."
You can watch below via YouTube or at the link.
After watching Donald Trump rant and rage at Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky during a nationally televised press availability on Friday afternoon, longtime Democratic strategist James Carville admitted he couldn't stay silent.
In a video posted to YouTube, the always outspoken liberal from Louisiana suggested we may again be watching another example of the president's cognitive decline.
Sitting in his home, Carville expressed alarm about the president's combative stance with Zelensky who has been leading his country's fight with Russia following an unprovoked invasion 3 years ago.
As he explained, "It’s stunning –– I think anybody who watched it saw it and I’m torn for an explanation, but there’s something clear. There’s an expression here in south Louisiana. It’s not totally true, but it’s you mostly hear it from Black people, and they’ll say, ‘that boy ain’t right.’"
"And it’ll be somebody obviously having some kind of a personality disorder or whatever. But when you look at Trump, the first thing that comes to your mind is, that boy ain’t right," he added.
He later went further afield suggesting Trump is on the throes of "madness" while also citing a possible "accumulation of age" as a possibility.
"I’m just asking questions, but what you saw is madness. And I don’t mean madness, like I’m mad at you, you’re mad at me. I’m not saying that," he elaborated. "I’m talking about madness like a King George III kind of madness. And it could be a combination of being a fat f--king slob, which he is. It could be that he can’t sleep at night because his beached whale body can’t allow the circulation it needs."
"I don’t know. I don’t know, I’m not a sleep specialist or a medical doctor but I think we should revisit the possibility of a syphilis diagnosis," he conceded.
"My question is this," he stated. "Could this dramatic event, this deterioration, this unlike any other event in history, could there be a scientific explanation for why it happened."
You can watch below via YouTube or at the link.
Only a bully kicks a man and then makes him say 'thank you'
Sabrina Haake
March 1, 2025
REUTERS/Brian Snyder/File Photo
I just watched Trump and Vance try to pressure Ukraine’s President into surrendering to Putin and I feel sick with shame.
Trump wants Zelensky to agree to a ceasefire with no security guarantees and to “trust” Putin to honor his word.Zelensky knows Putin can’t be trusted, because Putin proved it with his 2014 invasion of Crimea and his 2022 invasion of Ukraine, and at all points in between when he murdered critics and disappeared rivals. When Zelensky tried to explain this basic history to Trump/Vance, they accused him of “being disrespectful” and “trying to relitigate” the morals of the war for the cameras—cameras Trump arranged.
Putin has made his imperial ambitions clear. He is trying to rebuild the Soviet Empire, which includes not only Ukraine but Belarus, and possibly Poland. Any child can understand that a ceasefire with no U.S. security guarantees will give Putin time to replenish his military and attack again, which means a bad deal for Ukraine would be more deadly than no deal.
Instead of discussing these facts in good faith, Trump and Vance tag teamed each other for the cameras, hurling outrageous insults at Zelensky based on deliberate disinformation.
I’ve never been so sorry. For Ukraine, for NATO, Europe, Taiwan and for America, because, WWIII aside, we may never recover from partnering with Putin.
Only a bully kicks a man then makes him say thank you
Friday’s meeting was arranged to discuss Trump’s demand for Ukraine’s rare earth minerals, ostensible “payback” for US military support. Embracing full mafia braggadocio, Trump tried to extort Zelensky for the second time, demanding payment for past protection, and brought in the media to watch.
Vance relished his role. When Zelensky detailed Russia’s aggression going back to 2014, Vance pistol whipped him with, “I think it’s disrespectful for you to come into the Oval Office to try to litigate this in front of the American media…You should be thanking the president for trying to bring an end to this conflict.”
As Zelensky tried to respond, Vance, incredibly, asked, “Do you think that is respectful to come to the Oval Office of the United States of America and attack the administration that is trying to prevent the destruction of your country?” then demanded, “Have you said thank you once?” The only thing missing from the scene was a box of fingers.
Zelenskyy replied, “A lot of times. Even today.”
Zelensky has expressed repeated and profound gratitude, not just to the US, but to NATO, for its support. Even after Friday’s ambush, because he is a true hero desperate to save his country, Zelensky posted, “Thank you America, thank you for your support, thank you for this visit. Thank you @POTUS, Congress, and the American people.”
How is this not treason?
Before Friday’s meeting, world leaders were aghast that Trump called Zelensky—rather than Putin-- a “dictator” and accused Kyiv of starting the war. Then Trump set up talks with Russia about ending the war, but didn’t invite Ukraine.
During Friday’s meeting when Zelensky urged him not to trust Vladimir Putin, Trump flew into a rage. Like a psychopath with a tape-bound victim, Trump thundered, “You don’t know that. Don’t tell us what we’re going to feel. You’re in no position to dictate that.”
Trump later demanded that Zelensky “accept” that Kyiv “had a weak negotiating hand.”
The entire world can see that the main reason Kyiv now has a weak negotiating hand is because of Trump’s dangerous loyalty to Putin. How stupid does Trump think Fox viewers are? Meanwhile, leaders of the free world recoil in horror from an America that turned overnight from a beacon of liberty to a mouthpiece for Nazis and the KGB. Ukraine has already lost 100,000 people to Putin’s butchery. Now they will lose more, because the President of the United States is giving aid and comfort to the enemy.
Trump’s bombast tells us where he’s going
The whole scripted episode was another gift to Putin. As Daniel Fried, former U.S. ambassador to Poland put it, the rupture plays right into the Russians’ hands. “I see no U.S. interest served by this blowup and fighting with Zelensky,” Fried said. “Who benefits? Putin benefits.” But Trump doesn’t care about that.He posted after the meeting that, “(Zelensky) disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office. He can come back when he is ready for Peace.”
Trump, aided by right wing media, may be able to convince his base, but the rest of the world is clear-eyed. Trump appears to have no concern for how the world sees him, which should frighten everyone. As I see it, Trump’s disregard for public opinion and the fate of the Republican party suggests he’s planning to stay in power by force. He tried it once and failed, but he has now politicized the military with loyalists he can count on to execute unconstitutional orders.
Look for Trump to declare consistent “national emergencies” so Hegseth can get the lay of the land and learn who Trump can trust. Look for Fox News to embellish the threats Trump manufactures or deliberately worsens, to generate widespread fear.Look for Trump to tap that fear to encourage MAGA goons to engage in street violence, which will trigger Trump’s declaration of martial law.Look for Trump to cancel the midterms, citing the unrest he created.
I think I’m going to be sick
The flip side to shame is revulsion. Watching Trump and Vance kick Zelensky for the cameras was like watching a neighbor starve his dog, then kick it for looking at his food bowl.There are no words to capture such evil.
Shame competes with outrage competes with sorrow for what Zelensky and the Ukrainian people have gone through and will continue to go through. And America! Trump is dissolving 80 years of the greatest military alliance the world has ever known, and aligning America instead with one of the world’s most brutal dictators. Humanity is in a dire situation, and anyone who doubts where this is going is being deliberately obtuse or lied to.
Trump supports Putin’s invasion of Ukraine/Belarus/ Poland, because Trump is also fixated on imperialism from the 1800s, eyeing Canada/Panama/Greenland. China will feel emboldened to take Taiwan while US resources are tied up pursuing Trump’s hemispheric expansion. Trump and Putin will offer Xi “a deal,” and the three dictators will share a meal as they carve up the world’s spoils among themselves.
Sabrina Haake is a 25 year trial lawyer specializing in 1st and 14th A defense.Her columns are published in the Chicago Tribune, Salon, Raw Story, Out South Florida, Windy City Times, MSN, Alternet, and Smart News. Her Substack, The Haake Take, is free.
Sabrina Haake
March 1, 2025
REUTERS/Brian Snyder/File Photo
I just watched Trump and Vance try to pressure Ukraine’s President into surrendering to Putin and I feel sick with shame.
Trump wants Zelensky to agree to a ceasefire with no security guarantees and to “trust” Putin to honor his word.Zelensky knows Putin can’t be trusted, because Putin proved it with his 2014 invasion of Crimea and his 2022 invasion of Ukraine, and at all points in between when he murdered critics and disappeared rivals. When Zelensky tried to explain this basic history to Trump/Vance, they accused him of “being disrespectful” and “trying to relitigate” the morals of the war for the cameras—cameras Trump arranged.
Putin has made his imperial ambitions clear. He is trying to rebuild the Soviet Empire, which includes not only Ukraine but Belarus, and possibly Poland. Any child can understand that a ceasefire with no U.S. security guarantees will give Putin time to replenish his military and attack again, which means a bad deal for Ukraine would be more deadly than no deal.
Instead of discussing these facts in good faith, Trump and Vance tag teamed each other for the cameras, hurling outrageous insults at Zelensky based on deliberate disinformation.
I’ve never been so sorry. For Ukraine, for NATO, Europe, Taiwan and for America, because, WWIII aside, we may never recover from partnering with Putin.
Only a bully kicks a man then makes him say thank you
Friday’s meeting was arranged to discuss Trump’s demand for Ukraine’s rare earth minerals, ostensible “payback” for US military support. Embracing full mafia braggadocio, Trump tried to extort Zelensky for the second time, demanding payment for past protection, and brought in the media to watch.
Vance relished his role. When Zelensky detailed Russia’s aggression going back to 2014, Vance pistol whipped him with, “I think it’s disrespectful for you to come into the Oval Office to try to litigate this in front of the American media…You should be thanking the president for trying to bring an end to this conflict.”
As Zelensky tried to respond, Vance, incredibly, asked, “Do you think that is respectful to come to the Oval Office of the United States of America and attack the administration that is trying to prevent the destruction of your country?” then demanded, “Have you said thank you once?” The only thing missing from the scene was a box of fingers.
Zelenskyy replied, “A lot of times. Even today.”
Zelensky has expressed repeated and profound gratitude, not just to the US, but to NATO, for its support. Even after Friday’s ambush, because he is a true hero desperate to save his country, Zelensky posted, “Thank you America, thank you for your support, thank you for this visit. Thank you @POTUS, Congress, and the American people.”
How is this not treason?
Before Friday’s meeting, world leaders were aghast that Trump called Zelensky—rather than Putin-- a “dictator” and accused Kyiv of starting the war. Then Trump set up talks with Russia about ending the war, but didn’t invite Ukraine.
During Friday’s meeting when Zelensky urged him not to trust Vladimir Putin, Trump flew into a rage. Like a psychopath with a tape-bound victim, Trump thundered, “You don’t know that. Don’t tell us what we’re going to feel. You’re in no position to dictate that.”
Trump later demanded that Zelensky “accept” that Kyiv “had a weak negotiating hand.”
The entire world can see that the main reason Kyiv now has a weak negotiating hand is because of Trump’s dangerous loyalty to Putin. How stupid does Trump think Fox viewers are? Meanwhile, leaders of the free world recoil in horror from an America that turned overnight from a beacon of liberty to a mouthpiece for Nazis and the KGB. Ukraine has already lost 100,000 people to Putin’s butchery. Now they will lose more, because the President of the United States is giving aid and comfort to the enemy.
Trump’s bombast tells us where he’s going
The whole scripted episode was another gift to Putin. As Daniel Fried, former U.S. ambassador to Poland put it, the rupture plays right into the Russians’ hands. “I see no U.S. interest served by this blowup and fighting with Zelensky,” Fried said. “Who benefits? Putin benefits.” But Trump doesn’t care about that.He posted after the meeting that, “(Zelensky) disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office. He can come back when he is ready for Peace.”
Trump, aided by right wing media, may be able to convince his base, but the rest of the world is clear-eyed. Trump appears to have no concern for how the world sees him, which should frighten everyone. As I see it, Trump’s disregard for public opinion and the fate of the Republican party suggests he’s planning to stay in power by force. He tried it once and failed, but he has now politicized the military with loyalists he can count on to execute unconstitutional orders.
Look for Trump to declare consistent “national emergencies” so Hegseth can get the lay of the land and learn who Trump can trust. Look for Fox News to embellish the threats Trump manufactures or deliberately worsens, to generate widespread fear.Look for Trump to tap that fear to encourage MAGA goons to engage in street violence, which will trigger Trump’s declaration of martial law.Look for Trump to cancel the midterms, citing the unrest he created.
I think I’m going to be sick
The flip side to shame is revulsion. Watching Trump and Vance kick Zelensky for the cameras was like watching a neighbor starve his dog, then kick it for looking at his food bowl.There are no words to capture such evil.
Shame competes with outrage competes with sorrow for what Zelensky and the Ukrainian people have gone through and will continue to go through. And America! Trump is dissolving 80 years of the greatest military alliance the world has ever known, and aligning America instead with one of the world’s most brutal dictators. Humanity is in a dire situation, and anyone who doubts where this is going is being deliberately obtuse or lied to.
Trump supports Putin’s invasion of Ukraine/Belarus/ Poland, because Trump is also fixated on imperialism from the 1800s, eyeing Canada/Panama/Greenland. China will feel emboldened to take Taiwan while US resources are tied up pursuing Trump’s hemispheric expansion. Trump and Putin will offer Xi “a deal,” and the three dictators will share a meal as they carve up the world’s spoils among themselves.
Sabrina Haake is a 25 year trial lawyer specializing in 1st and 14th A defense.Her columns are published in the Chicago Tribune, Salon, Raw Story, Out South Florida, Windy City Times, MSN, Alternet, and Smart News. Her Substack, The Haake Take, is free.
Pro-Putin state-run outlet was in Oval Office during Trump-Zelenskyy meeting: report
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy departs after a press conference with U.S. President Donald Trump was canceled following their Oval Office meeting at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 28, 2025. REUTERS/Nathan Howard
During Friday's tense meeting between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, one of the reporters present in the Oval Office was from a Russian state-run media outlet.
Politico reported that an employee of TASS, which is headquartered in Moscow and wholly owned by Russian leader Vladimir Putin's government, was momentarily feet away from Trump and Zelenskyy before being removed. Notably, the TASS reporter was allowed access to the Oval Office, however briefly, while prominent American news wire services Reuters and the Associated Press were denied entry.
"TASS was not on the approved list of media for today’s pool," a White House spokesperson told Politico. "As soon as it came to the attention of press office staff that he was in the Oval, he was escorted out by the Press Secretary. He is not on the approved list for the press conference."
In addition to the TASS reporter, Brian Glenn — an employee of pro-Trump network Real America's Voice — was also present in the White House, and asked Zelenskyy if he owned a suit (Zelenskyy wore a long-sleeved black shirt emblazoned with the Ukraine trident). Washington Post reporter Drew Harwell observed in an X post that Glenn is also the boyfriend of Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.).
Politico reported that the White House did not clarify how a journalist with Russia's largest state-run news agency was allowed to get so close to the president of the United States. According to the White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA), the process of being granted a "hard pass" to the White House involves a lengthy vetting process.
"To get a hard pass, journalists must submit an application to the White House Press Office and undergo a background screening by the Secret Service, which protects the President and is responsible for security at the White House," the WHCA's website reads. "This process can take several months."
The White House stated that the Ukrainian president was asked to leave the premises after the meeting and is not welcomed back. The rare earth minerals agreement that Trump and Zelenskyy were rumored to finalize was not signed. Former Russian president and prime minister Dmitry Medvedev, who currently is deputy chair of the Russian Security Council, celebrated the meeting, tweeting: "The insolent pig finally got a proper slap down in the Oval Office."
Click here to read Politico's full report.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy departs after a press conference with U.S. President Donald Trump was canceled following their Oval Office meeting at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 28, 2025. REUTERS/Nathan Howard
During Friday's tense meeting between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, one of the reporters present in the Oval Office was from a Russian state-run media outlet.
Politico reported that an employee of TASS, which is headquartered in Moscow and wholly owned by Russian leader Vladimir Putin's government, was momentarily feet away from Trump and Zelenskyy before being removed. Notably, the TASS reporter was allowed access to the Oval Office, however briefly, while prominent American news wire services Reuters and the Associated Press were denied entry.
"TASS was not on the approved list of media for today’s pool," a White House spokesperson told Politico. "As soon as it came to the attention of press office staff that he was in the Oval, he was escorted out by the Press Secretary. He is not on the approved list for the press conference."
In addition to the TASS reporter, Brian Glenn — an employee of pro-Trump network Real America's Voice — was also present in the White House, and asked Zelenskyy if he owned a suit (Zelenskyy wore a long-sleeved black shirt emblazoned with the Ukraine trident). Washington Post reporter Drew Harwell observed in an X post that Glenn is also the boyfriend of Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.).
Politico reported that the White House did not clarify how a journalist with Russia's largest state-run news agency was allowed to get so close to the president of the United States. According to the White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA), the process of being granted a "hard pass" to the White House involves a lengthy vetting process.
"To get a hard pass, journalists must submit an application to the White House Press Office and undergo a background screening by the Secret Service, which protects the President and is responsible for security at the White House," the WHCA's website reads. "This process can take several months."
The White House stated that the Ukrainian president was asked to leave the premises after the meeting and is not welcomed back. The rare earth minerals agreement that Trump and Zelenskyy were rumored to finalize was not signed. Former Russian president and prime minister Dmitry Medvedev, who currently is deputy chair of the Russian Security Council, celebrated the meeting, tweeting: "The insolent pig finally got a proper slap down in the Oval Office."
Click here to read Politico's full report.
'Not sure we did something bad': Zelensky refuses to apologize after spat with Trump
Erik De La Garza
February 28, 2025
Erik De La Garza
February 28, 2025
RAW STORY
Acknowledging the Oval Office fiasco he found himself at the center of was “not good,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky held his ground hours later in a Fox News interview where he refused to ask President Donald Trump for forgiveness.
The stunning moment instigated by Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance on Friday unfolded after Vance accused the Ukrainian leader of not being “thankful enough” to the new MAGA administration. Zelensky later took to Fox News for an exclusive interview with Bret Baier, where he was asked right out of the gate if he thought he owed Trump an apology.
But Zelensky wasn’t ready to admit fault in the public dust-up. He first launched into a passionate showing of gratitude to Americans for their support.
“Nobody wants to finish this war more than we,” Zelensky said Friday. “Because we in Ukraine we are in this war, we are in this battle and battle for freedom for our lives, still. “So, I'm just telling that I think that we have to be on the same side, and I hope that the president, on our side together with us and that is very important to stop Putin.”
But Baier continued to press Zelensky on whether he believes Trump is due an apology for what the Fox News host called the “public spat.”
“I'm not hearing from you, Mr. President, a thought that you owe the president an apology.
“No, I respect president, and I respect the American people, and if – I don't know...I think that we have to be very open and very honest,” Zelensky said. “And I'm not sure that we did something bad. I think maybe sometimes, some things, we have to discuss out of media, with all respect to the democracy and to a free media, but there are things that where we have to understand the position of Ukraine and Ukrainians"
He added: “And I think that is the most important thing.”
But Zelensky also used the opportunity to make clear that American support is vital to his country’s freedom from Russian aggression.
"This kind of path is not good for both sides,” he said. “But I can’t change our Ukrainian attitude toward Russia. This is very, very clear that Americans are the best of our friends. Europeans are the best of our friends, and Putin, with Russia, their enemies. And it doesn't mean that we don't want peace, we just want to recognize the reality.”
Watch the clip below or at this link:
Acknowledging the Oval Office fiasco he found himself at the center of was “not good,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky held his ground hours later in a Fox News interview where he refused to ask President Donald Trump for forgiveness.
The stunning moment instigated by Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance on Friday unfolded after Vance accused the Ukrainian leader of not being “thankful enough” to the new MAGA administration. Zelensky later took to Fox News for an exclusive interview with Bret Baier, where he was asked right out of the gate if he thought he owed Trump an apology.
But Zelensky wasn’t ready to admit fault in the public dust-up. He first launched into a passionate showing of gratitude to Americans for their support.
“Nobody wants to finish this war more than we,” Zelensky said Friday. “Because we in Ukraine we are in this war, we are in this battle and battle for freedom for our lives, still. “So, I'm just telling that I think that we have to be on the same side, and I hope that the president, on our side together with us and that is very important to stop Putin.”
But Baier continued to press Zelensky on whether he believes Trump is due an apology for what the Fox News host called the “public spat.”
“I'm not hearing from you, Mr. President, a thought that you owe the president an apology.
“No, I respect president, and I respect the American people, and if – I don't know...I think that we have to be very open and very honest,” Zelensky said. “And I'm not sure that we did something bad. I think maybe sometimes, some things, we have to discuss out of media, with all respect to the democracy and to a free media, but there are things that where we have to understand the position of Ukraine and Ukrainians"
He added: “And I think that is the most important thing.”
But Zelensky also used the opportunity to make clear that American support is vital to his country’s freedom from Russian aggression.
"This kind of path is not good for both sides,” he said. “But I can’t change our Ukrainian attitude toward Russia. This is very, very clear that Americans are the best of our friends. Europeans are the best of our friends, and Putin, with Russia, their enemies. And it doesn't mean that we don't want peace, we just want to recognize the reality.”
Watch the clip below or at this link:
'It was a setup': Ex-diplomat says Trump orchestrated meltdown to 'humiliate' Zelensky
February 28, 2025
RAW STORY
FILE PHOTO: Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy meet at Trump Tower in New York City, U.S., September 27, 2024. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton/File Photo
Everything that went down in the disastrous White House meeting between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was staged, former U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice argued to CNN's Wolf Blitzer on Friday evening.
"What do you make of this heated and shocking Oval Office clash that occurred today?" asked Blitzer.
"Well, Wolf, in my estimation, it was a setup," said Rice. "Let's recall the sequence here. Zelensky reluctantly agreed to a bad deal regarding his mineral wealth for which he got nothing in exchange. Not as bad a deal as the original one that the Trump administration proposed, but still nothing in it for Ukraine. He nonetheless was prepared to sign it, to come to Washington, to have the opportunity to try to persuade Donald Trump, before negotiations get really underway, that Ukraine desperately needs security guarantees. So he came, hat in hand, to the Oval Office. Donald Trump kept the pool spray in there for 40 minutes, and was saying things that were outrageous that like, you know, Ukraine started the war and Russia is not the aggressor."
Furthermore, Rice argued, Trump "gave the permission to J.D. Vance in advance to try to provoke Zelensky, which he tried to do, and to start a rumble that would have two purposes. One, to appeal to Trump's base, which is why at the end of the meeting, Trump said, oh, this is great television. And they've been sending all of their lackeys out to to tout how wonderful it was, when in fact it was a massive embarrassment for the United States of America. But the other audience was Vladimir Putin. And my understanding ... is that the Russian state news agency, TASS, was in the room as part of the pool spray, but AP and perhaps Reuters were not. That tells you that the other audience was very much in Moscow, and you already indicated how delighted they are at the outcome."
"This was a setup designed to humiliate and antagonize the Ukrainians and Zelensky, and to give Donald Trump a pretext for what he has already indicated he is intending to do, which is to stop military assistance to Ukraine," she added. "So we are in a really dangerous, not to mention shameful situation, where yet again, in word and deed, Trump is aligning the United States of America with Vladimir Putin and, by extension, his best buddies, China, North Korea, and Iran, and abandoning our NATO allies, abandoning Ukraine, abandoning our principles, our values and democracy, and throwing our lot in with an autocratic dictator and an axis of authoritarians."
"It's dangerous and shameful," said Rice. "And we will pay for this day and all that preceded it for many years to come."
Watch the video below or at the link here.
FILE PHOTO: Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy meet at Trump Tower in New York City, U.S., September 27, 2024. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton/File Photo
Everything that went down in the disastrous White House meeting between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was staged, former U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice argued to CNN's Wolf Blitzer on Friday evening.
"What do you make of this heated and shocking Oval Office clash that occurred today?" asked Blitzer.
"Well, Wolf, in my estimation, it was a setup," said Rice. "Let's recall the sequence here. Zelensky reluctantly agreed to a bad deal regarding his mineral wealth for which he got nothing in exchange. Not as bad a deal as the original one that the Trump administration proposed, but still nothing in it for Ukraine. He nonetheless was prepared to sign it, to come to Washington, to have the opportunity to try to persuade Donald Trump, before negotiations get really underway, that Ukraine desperately needs security guarantees. So he came, hat in hand, to the Oval Office. Donald Trump kept the pool spray in there for 40 minutes, and was saying things that were outrageous that like, you know, Ukraine started the war and Russia is not the aggressor."
Furthermore, Rice argued, Trump "gave the permission to J.D. Vance in advance to try to provoke Zelensky, which he tried to do, and to start a rumble that would have two purposes. One, to appeal to Trump's base, which is why at the end of the meeting, Trump said, oh, this is great television. And they've been sending all of their lackeys out to to tout how wonderful it was, when in fact it was a massive embarrassment for the United States of America. But the other audience was Vladimir Putin. And my understanding ... is that the Russian state news agency, TASS, was in the room as part of the pool spray, but AP and perhaps Reuters were not. That tells you that the other audience was very much in Moscow, and you already indicated how delighted they are at the outcome."
"This was a setup designed to humiliate and antagonize the Ukrainians and Zelensky, and to give Donald Trump a pretext for what he has already indicated he is intending to do, which is to stop military assistance to Ukraine," she added. "So we are in a really dangerous, not to mention shameful situation, where yet again, in word and deed, Trump is aligning the United States of America with Vladimir Putin and, by extension, his best buddies, China, North Korea, and Iran, and abandoning our NATO allies, abandoning Ukraine, abandoning our principles, our values and democracy, and throwing our lot in with an autocratic dictator and an axis of authoritarians."
"It's dangerous and shameful," said Rice. "And we will pay for this day and all that preceded it for many years to come."
Watch the video below or at the link here.
Historian calls out Trump’s Ukraine 'protection racket': 'Not a lot of diplomatic thought here'
ALTERNET
February 28, 2025
President Donald Trump is slated to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, whom he called a “dictator.” They are expected to finalize an agreement giving the U.S. rights to rare minerals in Ukraine. Historian Jon Meacham told MSNBC on Friday that Trump's approach was reminiscent of the Sopranos.
“Take us back. Is this more like a Teddy Roosevelt imperialist approach? Is this William McKinley? Who does this remind you of [Trump’s] world view when it comes to power politics?” asked MSNBC host Joe Scarborough.
“It's older than that even, it's almost medieval and Renaissance… This is a royal house with a kingdom who bases relations on personal connection, personal feeling… and basically the transfer of assets. It's very autocratic, very straightforward. I mean, let's be honest. It's kind of, I don't want to say refreshing, but the president is being very clear here,” Meacham said.
READ MORE: Trump and Kushner working a new golf deal with Saudis — while no one is looking: report
“So one of the things that I think is really important here is to remember that we are now living — to shift from a historical metaphor to a cultural one — we're now living in the Sopranos, right? This is a protection racket. Basically, President Zelenskyy is being asked to come to Washington to pay for our protection,” he continued.
“ And one of the most revealing moments I think, of the last couple of weeks was and some comments the president made. It was about the Associated Press situation in the White House.” The Associated Press had their White House access revoked after they refused to follow Trump’s executive order to call the “Gulf of Mexico” the “Gulf of America.”
“And I believe I have this almost, almost exactly right, but it's certainly the essence of it, ‘the AP doesn't do me any favors, so I'm not going to do them any favors.’ That's the way the world works. That's the way the world works. That's where we are. And it's a there's not a lot of diplomatic thought here.”
“Now, the Associated Press, as you know,” Trump said earlier this month, “has been very, very wrong on the election, on Trump, and the treatment of Trump, and other things having to do with Trump and Republicans and conservatives. And they’re doing us no favors, and I guess I’m not doing them any favors. That’s the way life works.”
“It's a protection racket, except, as we've been pointing out so far, no protection, just the racket. So that's why Zelenskyy will be at the White House today seeking a little bit of that protection,” Scarborough quipped.
Watch the video below or at this link:
"Donald Trump is treating the destruction of a democracy as a political show—throwing Ukraine to the wolves and doing a favor for Putin," said one Senate Democrat.
A resident looks out of the shattered window of her house, which was damaged by Russian artillery shelling in Kostiantynivka, Ukraine, on February 28, 2025.
(Photo: Diego Herrera Carcedo/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Jessica Corbett
Feb 28, 2025
COMMON DREAMS
A televised Oval Office screaming match between U.S. and Ukrainian leaders on Friday led to politicians worldwide reaffirming support for Ukraine, congressional Democrats decrying the Trump administration, and human rights advocates expressing alarm about what lies ahead.
U.S. President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance took turns berating Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who reportedly left the White House without plans for a cease-fire or a rare minerals deal with the United States, which has put nearly $183 billion toward help Ukraine respond to the 2022 Russian invasion.
"This is thuggery from Trump and Vance, plain and simple," Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats in the United Kingdom, said of the public spat on Friday—a day after the U.K.'s Labour prime minister, Keir Starmer, visited the White House and urged Trump to proceed cautiously on a potential peace deal for the region.
"Your dignity honors the bravery of the Ukrainian people," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told the Ukrainian leader on social media Friday. "Be strong, be brave, be fearless. You are never alone, dear President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. We will continue working with you for a just and lasting peace."
Zelenskyy responded, "Thank you for your support." He shared that same message in response to similar comments from the presidents of the European Council and Parliament as well as leaders in Austria, Canada, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Moldova, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, and Sweden.
Despite the incident at the White House, Zelenskyy also said: "Thank you America, thank you for your support, thank you for this visit. Thank you President Donald Trump, Congress, and the American people. Ukraine needs just and lasting peace, and we are working exactly for that."
While world leaders largely focused on rallying behind Ukraine and its president, many Democrats on Capitol Hill were quick to condemn Trump and Vance's conduct.
"Trump and Vance are an EMBARRASSMENT and DISGRACE. It was absolutely shameful to watch them berate the president of another country. Let alone one of our allies!" said Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas).
Crockett also blasted Trump's ultimatum for the Ukrainian leader, saying: "That's not leadership—this is a power play with no regard for what's really happening in the world. President Zelenskyy is literally fighting for his country's survival!
Congresswoman Delia Ramirez (D-Ill.) slammed the U.S. leaders' subservience to the Russian president, charging that "there is no clearer evidence that Trump and Vance kiss the ring of Vladimir Putin than today's meeting with President Zelenskyy."
"What the American people saw was Trump and Vance behaving in ways that are unbefitting their offices," she continued. "Trump's obsession with pleasing Putin is a betrayal of the Ukrainian people, a national security threat, and an international crisis."
Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) denounced their behavior as "disgusting and damaging," while Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) opted for "shameful and dangerous." She added that "Donald Trump is treating the destruction of a democracy as a political show—throwing Ukraine to the wolves and doing a favor for Putin."
Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) similarly said that "the United States doesn't support Ukraine as a favor, but because it serves our security. Putin is a dictator, not Zelenskyy. Putin started the war, not Zelenskyy. Yelling in the Oval Office and siding with Putin is shameful and a danger to democracy around the world."
Andrew Albertson, executive director of Foreign Policy for America—which was founded after Trump's first win and is largely aligned with the Democratic Party—said in a Friday statement that "in capitals around the world, our closest allies are expressing tonight their shock and dismay at what they witnessed from an American president in the Oval Office."
"Once again," Albertson said, "we saw two things from President Trump: his bizarre affinity for the murderous dictator Vladimir Putin and Trump's grotesque willingness to make even this—Ukraine's fight for survival in the face of Russia's unconscionable invasion—about himself, turning a White House meeting into something we would expect from a reality TV show."
Amnesty International USA said on social media that "nothing that was said today in the Oval Office changes the facts: Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine was an act of aggression and a manifest violation of the U.N. Charter. Sustainable peace in Ukraine is only possible through justice and accountability for all crimes under international law committed since 2014."
Kenneth Roth, a former executive director of Human Rights Watch who's now a visiting professor at Princeton University, called out Vance over berating Zelenskyy for "daring to exercise his free speech rights before the American media," and Trump for "making life-and-death decisions based on his fragile ego."
"Because Ukraine's President Zelenskyy didn't immediately kiss the 'king's' ring, Trump threatens to abandon Ukraine's democracy to Putin's predation," he said. "Trump seems to be so accustomed to sycophants that he becomes outraged when Zelenskyy has the audacity to argue back. Zelenskyy rightly points out that Putin has already breached prior agreements. Why would this one be different without security guarantees?"
"Trump pretends to miss the point," Roth added. "Zelenskyy is perfectly 'ready for peace.' But he wants peace that will last, not a pause in the fighting that will enable Putin to rearm and reinvade. That requires a U.S. security guarantee that Trump refuses to provide."
Meanwhile, Republicans in Congress praised Trump—as did Dmitry Medvedev, a former Russian president who is now deputy chair of the country's Security Council.
"The insolent pig finally got a proper slap down in the Oval Office," Medvedev said of Zelenskyy. "And Donald Trump is right: The Kiev regime is 'gambling with WWIII.'"
The battle in Ukraine over the past three years has elevated global fears of a world war and the potential use of nuclear weapons. Of the nine nations with nukes, Russia and the United States have the largest arsenals.
The U.S.-based peace group CodePink said in a Friday statement that "the heated exchange in the White House... is not helpful for finding an immediate solution to the conflict," but also argued that "without an end to U.S. weapons to Ukraine, the war would continue to present an increased risk of nuclear catastrophe."
"The response to this exchange in the media has been largely about the demonstrated lack of decorum from the Trump administration regarding Ukraine—but we encourage the public to focus instead on the material realities facing Ukraine and Russia," the group said. "This war continuing would cost thousands of more Ukrainian and Russian lives—and an escalation would have an impact on the entire world."
"We hope the U.S. and Ukraine come back together on a more realistic basis before the war escalates further, but that will require serious diplomacy. It will require Europe to stop encouraging Ukraine to keep fighting," CodePink added. "Now is the moment when all sides must recognize that this war must be settled at the negotiating table, no matter how hard that is."
'Disturbing': Conservative editorial board 'shocked' by Trump's 'unimaginable' behavior
Erik De La Garza
February 28, 2025
RAW STORY
U.S. President Donald Trump waves after speaking with members of the media on the South Lawn before boarding Marine One at the White House, in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 28, 2025. REUTERS/Nathan Howard
The editorial board at the conservative National Review joined the chorus of political observers stunned over the explosive White House showdown President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance subjected Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to on Friday.
Referring to the tense moment as an “ugly Oval Office spat,” the editorial board came out to publicly slam the blowup that unfolded in front of the international media after Vance accused the Ukrainian leader of not being “thankful enough” to the new MAGA administration.
“They belittled his country’s position in the war, called him an ingrate, and made open threats about abandoning his country,” the conservative board, comprised of the Review’s senior editorial staff, told readers. “This was shocking behavior, especially when it is unimaginable that they’d ever dare treat Vladimir Putin in a similar fashion.”
The opinion piece went on to criticize the Trump administration’s sudden shift on Ukraine, and called Zelensky’s desire for guarantees involving Russian aggression down the road “not only an understandable concern, but one that it is in our interest to address.”
However, despite “Trump’s ego and Vance’s hostility,” the board still believes it was Zelensky’s “diplomatic failure” to “get sucked into making argumentative points” to begin with – the downside of which was “enormous.”
“One hopes that this doesn’t represent a fundamental breach in U.S.-Ukrainian relations,” the board concluded, adding that with “President Trump, blowups can happen quickly, but so can reconciliations.”
“Regardless, the episode is a disturbing reflection of the resentment the president feels toward a partner whose fundamental offense is wanting to defend itself and regain its sovereign territory,” according to the editors.
They finished with a well-known saying – “Keep your friends close and your enemies closer” – a longtime adage the board said, “shouldn’t mean kicking your friend to the curb.”
Erik De La Garza
February 28, 2025
RAW STORY
U.S. President Donald Trump waves after speaking with members of the media on the South Lawn before boarding Marine One at the White House, in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 28, 2025. REUTERS/Nathan Howard
The editorial board at the conservative National Review joined the chorus of political observers stunned over the explosive White House showdown President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance subjected Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to on Friday.
Referring to the tense moment as an “ugly Oval Office spat,” the editorial board came out to publicly slam the blowup that unfolded in front of the international media after Vance accused the Ukrainian leader of not being “thankful enough” to the new MAGA administration.
“They belittled his country’s position in the war, called him an ingrate, and made open threats about abandoning his country,” the conservative board, comprised of the Review’s senior editorial staff, told readers. “This was shocking behavior, especially when it is unimaginable that they’d ever dare treat Vladimir Putin in a similar fashion.”
The opinion piece went on to criticize the Trump administration’s sudden shift on Ukraine, and called Zelensky’s desire for guarantees involving Russian aggression down the road “not only an understandable concern, but one that it is in our interest to address.”
However, despite “Trump’s ego and Vance’s hostility,” the board still believes it was Zelensky’s “diplomatic failure” to “get sucked into making argumentative points” to begin with – the downside of which was “enormous.”
“One hopes that this doesn’t represent a fundamental breach in U.S.-Ukrainian relations,” the board concluded, adding that with “President Trump, blowups can happen quickly, but so can reconciliations.”
“Regardless, the episode is a disturbing reflection of the resentment the president feels toward a partner whose fundamental offense is wanting to defend itself and regain its sovereign territory,” according to the editors.
They finished with a well-known saying – “Keep your friends close and your enemies closer” – a longtime adage the board said, “shouldn’t mean kicking your friend to the curb.”
WSJ editorial board takes a shot at 'wannabe statesman' JD Vance after Zelensky 'brawl'
Daniel Hampton
February 28, 2025
RAW STORY
U.S. Vice President JD Vance is reflected on a mirror, on the day President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer meet at the White House, in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 27, 2025. REUTERS/Brian Snyder
Vice President J.D. Vance's "odd interjection" that sparked a shouting match with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and President Donald Trump didn't earn any kudos from the Wall Street Journal's conservative editorial board Friday evening.
Trump and Zelensky's heated argument stunned reporters and onlookers — even conservatives — during their meeting at the White House earlier in the day. The clash centered around several key issues, including peace negotiations.
But it was Vance's peculiar remark that caught the Journal's eye.
The meeting "descended into recriminations" following an "odd interjection from Vice President JD Vance, who appeared to be defending Mr. Trump’s diplomacy, which Mr. Zelensky hadn’t challenged."
Zelensky recited previous peace deals that Putin ran afoul of and questioned what would change this time. Vance didn't take too kindly to the rebuttal.
"Mr. Vance unloaded on Mr. Zelensky—that he was 'disrespectful,' low on manpower, and gives visitors to Ukraine a 'propaganda' tour."
Trump then joined in on attacking Zelensky after the Ukrainian president suggested the U.S. will have to deal with the repercussions from the outcome in the invasion.
“Your country is in big trouble. You’re not winning,” Trump said.
But the Journal returned to Vance — and questioned his actions.
"Why did the Vice President try to provoke a public fight? Mr. Vance has been taking to his X.com account in what appears to be an effort to soften up the political ground for a Ukraine surrender, most recently writing off Mr. Putin’s brutal invasion as a mere ethnic rivalry. Mr. Vance dressed down Mr. Zelensky as if he were a child late for dinner. He claimed the Ukrainian hadn’t been grateful enough for U.S. aid, though he has thanked America countless times for its support," the editorial board wrote.
The board concluded: "This was not the behavior of a wannabe statesman."
Daniel Hampton
February 28, 2025
RAW STORY
U.S. Vice President JD Vance is reflected on a mirror, on the day President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer meet at the White House, in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 27, 2025. REUTERS/Brian Snyder
Vice President J.D. Vance's "odd interjection" that sparked a shouting match with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and President Donald Trump didn't earn any kudos from the Wall Street Journal's conservative editorial board Friday evening.
Trump and Zelensky's heated argument stunned reporters and onlookers — even conservatives — during their meeting at the White House earlier in the day. The clash centered around several key issues, including peace negotiations.
But it was Vance's peculiar remark that caught the Journal's eye.
The meeting "descended into recriminations" following an "odd interjection from Vice President JD Vance, who appeared to be defending Mr. Trump’s diplomacy, which Mr. Zelensky hadn’t challenged."
Zelensky recited previous peace deals that Putin ran afoul of and questioned what would change this time. Vance didn't take too kindly to the rebuttal.
"Mr. Vance unloaded on Mr. Zelensky—that he was 'disrespectful,' low on manpower, and gives visitors to Ukraine a 'propaganda' tour."
Trump then joined in on attacking Zelensky after the Ukrainian president suggested the U.S. will have to deal with the repercussions from the outcome in the invasion.
“Your country is in big trouble. You’re not winning,” Trump said.
But the Journal returned to Vance — and questioned his actions.
"Why did the Vice President try to provoke a public fight? Mr. Vance has been taking to his X.com account in what appears to be an effort to soften up the political ground for a Ukraine surrender, most recently writing off Mr. Putin’s brutal invasion as a mere ethnic rivalry. Mr. Vance dressed down Mr. Zelensky as if he were a child late for dinner. He claimed the Ukrainian hadn’t been grateful enough for U.S. aid, though he has thanked America countless times for its support," the editorial board wrote.
The board concluded: "This was not the behavior of a wannabe statesman."
'History will remember': Conservatives unite in outrage over Zelensky barrage
Matthew Chapman
February 28, 2025
Matthew Chapman
February 28, 2025
RAW STORY
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy departs after a press conference with U.S. President Donald Trump was canceled following their Oval Office meeting at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 28, 2025. REUTERS/Nathan Howard
President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance did more than anger the left when they attacked and booted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky from their White House meeting on Friday. They also horrified the old guard of traditional, Reagan-era current and former Republicans who fear the damage this administration is doing to America's reputation on the world stage.
Many took to social media to express their anger at how Trump and Vance just humiliated their country — and their fear that it is setting up America to be powerless in its dealings with other countries.
"Some want to whitewash the truth, but we cannot ignore the truth. Russia is at fault for this war," wrote Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE), a GOP congressman known for mostly voting with his party on domestic issues but being highly critical of Trump's foreign policy approach.
"Generations of American patriots, from our revolution onward, have fought for the principles Zelensky is risking his life to defend," wrote former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY), a frequent critic of the president who was ousted from office over her vote to impeach him. "But today, Donald Trump and J.D. Vance attacked Zelensky and pressured him to surrender the freedom of his people to the KGB war criminal who invaded Ukraine. History will remember this day — when an American President and Vice President abandoned all we stand for."
"This was embarrassing," wrote former Republican National Committee chair Michael Steele. "It was an ambush of President Zelensky. Trump won't answer the question because Putin will not honor the ceasefire. It's not in his interest to do so but it is in Trump's to act like an a--clown for Putin in one of the most embarrassing Oval Office meetings with a head of state ever. #Ukraine is our [ally]. Zelensky has said "thank you" many times to the US. What we just witnessed affirms he ain't the problem."
"No, the meeting did not go badly for Ukraine," wrote former George W. Bush speechwriter David Frum. "It exposed in the most undeniable, unequivocal way possible the pro-Putin commitments of the president and vice president. That was information Americans and allies needed to have clear before them. Phony friendliness and behind-the-scenes treachery from Trump and Vance would have been much more dangerous to the cause of freedom in Ukraine than the self-exposure by both men."
One of the most scathing assessments came from Pradheep Shanker, an analyst for the conservative National Review.
"MAGA simply doesn't understand how Trump plays in places that have nothing to do with Russia and Ukraine. Countries around the world now understand that the USA isn't someone you can depend on when the going gets tough. Trump is weak, and that is what he portrayed today," wrote Shanker.
Trump can take on small-time targets like the Houthis and ISIS, he added, but "If you are anyone that can fight back, politically/military/economically, Trump doesn't have much spine to fight you, even if the fight is worth having."
"If I am China, I am absolutely, 100% going to attack Taiwan before the end of Trump's Presidency," Shanker added. "Because we know Trump won't spend any effort protecting them."
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy departs after a press conference with U.S. President Donald Trump was canceled following their Oval Office meeting at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 28, 2025. REUTERS/Nathan Howard
President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance did more than anger the left when they attacked and booted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky from their White House meeting on Friday. They also horrified the old guard of traditional, Reagan-era current and former Republicans who fear the damage this administration is doing to America's reputation on the world stage.
Many took to social media to express their anger at how Trump and Vance just humiliated their country — and their fear that it is setting up America to be powerless in its dealings with other countries.
"Some want to whitewash the truth, but we cannot ignore the truth. Russia is at fault for this war," wrote Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE), a GOP congressman known for mostly voting with his party on domestic issues but being highly critical of Trump's foreign policy approach.
"Generations of American patriots, from our revolution onward, have fought for the principles Zelensky is risking his life to defend," wrote former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY), a frequent critic of the president who was ousted from office over her vote to impeach him. "But today, Donald Trump and J.D. Vance attacked Zelensky and pressured him to surrender the freedom of his people to the KGB war criminal who invaded Ukraine. History will remember this day — when an American President and Vice President abandoned all we stand for."
"This was embarrassing," wrote former Republican National Committee chair Michael Steele. "It was an ambush of President Zelensky. Trump won't answer the question because Putin will not honor the ceasefire. It's not in his interest to do so but it is in Trump's to act like an a--clown for Putin in one of the most embarrassing Oval Office meetings with a head of state ever. #Ukraine is our [ally]. Zelensky has said "thank you" many times to the US. What we just witnessed affirms he ain't the problem."
"No, the meeting did not go badly for Ukraine," wrote former George W. Bush speechwriter David Frum. "It exposed in the most undeniable, unequivocal way possible the pro-Putin commitments of the president and vice president. That was information Americans and allies needed to have clear before them. Phony friendliness and behind-the-scenes treachery from Trump and Vance would have been much more dangerous to the cause of freedom in Ukraine than the self-exposure by both men."
One of the most scathing assessments came from Pradheep Shanker, an analyst for the conservative National Review.
"MAGA simply doesn't understand how Trump plays in places that have nothing to do with Russia and Ukraine. Countries around the world now understand that the USA isn't someone you can depend on when the going gets tough. Trump is weak, and that is what he portrayed today," wrote Shanker.
Trump can take on small-time targets like the Houthis and ISIS, he added, but "If you are anyone that can fight back, politically/military/economically, Trump doesn't have much spine to fight you, even if the fight is worth having."
"If I am China, I am absolutely, 100% going to attack Taiwan before the end of Trump's Presidency," Shanker added. "Because we know Trump won't spend any effort protecting them."
'Malicious toddler': Conservative delivers scathing takedown of Trump's Zelensky ambush
Matthew Chapman
February 28, 2025
RAW STORY
FILE PHOTO: Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy meet at Trump Tower in New York City, U.S., September 27, 2024. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton/File Photo
Conservative analyst Jonah Goldberg is fed up with everything in foreign policy and politics having to accommodate President Donald Trump's visceral impulses — and he laid out his frustration in a new analysis for The Dispatch following Trump's ambush shouting match with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House on Friday.
"I went and watched the entire 50-minute question-and-answer session on C-SPAN (which you can do right here), not just the few minutes in which things got heated. I highly recommend watching the whole thing, as excruciating as it is," wrote Goldberg. "I am trying to get my head around what we saw. And when I say 'we,' I don’t mean you and me, but the world. I found it appalling and embarrassing for the country. Everyone is going to their predictable sides. Including me. I put the blame for this on Trump and J.D. Vance. When I say 'this,' I mean the broader shame and dishonor Trump has brought to the issue of the Russian invasion of Ukraine."
It's possible that Zelensky didn't handle the situation perfectly, wrote Goldberg — but any discussion of that wholly misses the elephant in the room.
"Zelensky shouldn’t have taken the bait," he wrote. "But Vance, the champion of diplomacy, shouldn’t have baited a war-weary man fighting for the survival of his country in the first place. If he wanted a deal, his job should have been to prevent Trump from being goaded, not to goad Trump. He should have been the one to nudge Trump to call an end to the presser. That’s what Mike Pence would have done. But Vance has his own agenda, and he poorly served his president in service to it. What is his agenda? To be America’s foremost troll."
Moreover, Goldberg wrote of his conservative peers like Rich Lowry and Marc Thiessen who have a dimmer view of Zelensky's handling of the situation, "even if you think Zelensky made a fatal error by actually telling the truth about the predicament his nation finds itself in, even if you think the mineral deal — with no security guarantees — is brilliant, the fact remains that the administration mishandled the situation. Remember, Zelensky is a politician too. And for the better part of an hour he was asked to sit there as Trump painted a false moral equivalence between Russia and Ukraine and was dismissive of Ukraine’s plight and the history that led to this. If you actually want a deal, maybe don’t do that in public? I mean, the Ukrainians are watching too."
"Lowry says that Zelensky 'made an excellent point, but he wasn’t there to be right or to win an argument.' Fair enough," wrote Goldberg. "But this is yet another situation where others are to blame for not fully adjusting to the fact that Trump is a thin-skinned, malicious toddler with poor impulse control. It’s always someone else’s fault for not enabling or humoring him sufficiently. You know who knows Trump is easily baited into childish outbursts? J.D. Vance. And either out of cynicism or petulant incompetence, he acted on that."
Matthew Chapman
February 28, 2025
RAW STORY
FILE PHOTO: Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy meet at Trump Tower in New York City, U.S., September 27, 2024. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton/File Photo
Conservative analyst Jonah Goldberg is fed up with everything in foreign policy and politics having to accommodate President Donald Trump's visceral impulses — and he laid out his frustration in a new analysis for The Dispatch following Trump's ambush shouting match with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House on Friday.
"I went and watched the entire 50-minute question-and-answer session on C-SPAN (which you can do right here), not just the few minutes in which things got heated. I highly recommend watching the whole thing, as excruciating as it is," wrote Goldberg. "I am trying to get my head around what we saw. And when I say 'we,' I don’t mean you and me, but the world. I found it appalling and embarrassing for the country. Everyone is going to their predictable sides. Including me. I put the blame for this on Trump and J.D. Vance. When I say 'this,' I mean the broader shame and dishonor Trump has brought to the issue of the Russian invasion of Ukraine."
It's possible that Zelensky didn't handle the situation perfectly, wrote Goldberg — but any discussion of that wholly misses the elephant in the room.
"Zelensky shouldn’t have taken the bait," he wrote. "But Vance, the champion of diplomacy, shouldn’t have baited a war-weary man fighting for the survival of his country in the first place. If he wanted a deal, his job should have been to prevent Trump from being goaded, not to goad Trump. He should have been the one to nudge Trump to call an end to the presser. That’s what Mike Pence would have done. But Vance has his own agenda, and he poorly served his president in service to it. What is his agenda? To be America’s foremost troll."
Moreover, Goldberg wrote of his conservative peers like Rich Lowry and Marc Thiessen who have a dimmer view of Zelensky's handling of the situation, "even if you think Zelensky made a fatal error by actually telling the truth about the predicament his nation finds itself in, even if you think the mineral deal — with no security guarantees — is brilliant, the fact remains that the administration mishandled the situation. Remember, Zelensky is a politician too. And for the better part of an hour he was asked to sit there as Trump painted a false moral equivalence between Russia and Ukraine and was dismissive of Ukraine’s plight and the history that led to this. If you actually want a deal, maybe don’t do that in public? I mean, the Ukrainians are watching too."
"Lowry says that Zelensky 'made an excellent point, but he wasn’t there to be right or to win an argument.' Fair enough," wrote Goldberg. "But this is yet another situation where others are to blame for not fully adjusting to the fact that Trump is a thin-skinned, malicious toddler with poor impulse control. It’s always someone else’s fault for not enabling or humoring him sufficiently. You know who knows Trump is easily baited into childish outbursts? J.D. Vance. And either out of cynicism or petulant incompetence, he acted on that."
'Caught my ear': Ex-Obama adviser flags what 'people missed' in Trump-Zelensky dust-up
Erik De La Garza
February 28, 2025
RAW STORY
(Screengrab via CNN)
Behind the stunning Oval Office blow-up targetingUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, a key moment appeared “very odd” to veteran Democratic strategist David Axelrod.
The presidential dust-up instigated by President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance unfolded after Vance accused the Ukrainian leader of not being “thankful enough” to the new MAGA administration.
“It got very nasty very fast,” Axelrod said in a CNN interview Friday after delivering a large on-air sigh after the clip was played for viewers. He then revealed how Vance publicly broke with Trump – a moment he told CNN’s Dana Bash he “went back and listened to a couple of times.”
“The one thing I think people have missed that kind of caught my ear,” Axelrod said. “Was Vance began by saying that Russia had invaded Ukraine and destroyed much of the country, that's something that the President of the United States won't say.”
The former senior Obama adviser added that in making the point, Vance – who he called the “provocateur” of the day – “he actually contradicted the president who refuses to say the same.”
He also pointed out that Vance’s public position went against “the spirit” of the United Nations vote earlier this week in which the U.S. sided with authoritarian regimes — including Russia, North Korea, Belarus, and Hungary — by opposing a UN resolution condemning Russian aggression against Ukraine.
“So, that was very odd to me,” Axelrod concluded.
Watch the clip below or at this link:
Erik De La Garza
February 28, 2025
RAW STORY
(Screengrab via CNN)
Behind the stunning Oval Office blow-up targetingUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, a key moment appeared “very odd” to veteran Democratic strategist David Axelrod.
The presidential dust-up instigated by President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance unfolded after Vance accused the Ukrainian leader of not being “thankful enough” to the new MAGA administration.
“It got very nasty very fast,” Axelrod said in a CNN interview Friday after delivering a large on-air sigh after the clip was played for viewers. He then revealed how Vance publicly broke with Trump – a moment he told CNN’s Dana Bash he “went back and listened to a couple of times.”
“The one thing I think people have missed that kind of caught my ear,” Axelrod said. “Was Vance began by saying that Russia had invaded Ukraine and destroyed much of the country, that's something that the President of the United States won't say.”
The former senior Obama adviser added that in making the point, Vance – who he called the “provocateur” of the day – “he actually contradicted the president who refuses to say the same.”
He also pointed out that Vance’s public position went against “the spirit” of the United Nations vote earlier this week in which the U.S. sided with authoritarian regimes — including Russia, North Korea, Belarus, and Hungary — by opposing a UN resolution condemning Russian aggression against Ukraine.
“So, that was very odd to me,” Axelrod concluded.
Watch the clip below or at this link:
'This is nonsense': Tensions boil over on CNN as Trump-Zelensky feud sparks war of words
Daniel Hampton
February 28, 2025
RAW STORY
(Screengrab via CNN)
A former White House spokesman found himself in a clash with a retired Army official on CNN late Friday during a heated discussion over a verbal tussle earlier in the day between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Trump and Zelensky got into a heated argument in front of stunned reporters and onlookers during their meeting at the White House.
Pete Seat, who served in former President George W. Bush's administration, joined CNN's "NewsNight" with host Abby Philip, who asked him whether Zelensky ought to have apologized to Trump.
"Absolutely he should've done it already," said Seat. "He should've done it in the Oval Office."
Seat sarcastically called the meeting "perfect" — "I'm being ironic in that, a little bit," he joked, cracking up fellow panelist retired Army Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman.
Seat insisted the first 40 minutes of the meeting were positive and cordial. He then blamed Zelensky for what unfolded.
"It wasn't until Zelensky got upset with J.D. Vance, the vice president said — and he was absolutely correct — that the previous administration was more interested in vapid wordsmithing than they were in bringing an end to this conflict," said Seat. "They cared more about applause lines at Davos than they did in ending the war in Ukraine. And he was correct about that."
Seat's comments sparked immediate discussion, with panelists trying to talk over Philip. Eventually, Vindman stepped in.
"This is nonsense. It's completely ahistorical," he declared, noting this is Trump's second administration after overseeing four years of war between Russia and Ukraine. "Didn't do anything about it. Now he thinks he has this idea to bring peace. And what does he do? He bends the knee. His goal is to appease Putin."
Vindman agreed with Seat that the Biden administration didn't do enough to support Ukraine, but declared its Russia — not Ukraine — "on the ropes."
"The way you get peace is you get Putin to negotiate," he said.
The two didn't agree, however, and they continued talking over each other about when the conflict officially began.
The Russo-Ukrainian War began in February 2014 following Ukraine's Revolution of Dignity, which led to the ousting of pro-Russian president Viktor Yanukovych. Shortly thereafter, Russia occupied and annexed Crimea from Ukraine.
Watch the clip below or at this link.
Daniel Hampton
February 28, 2025
RAW STORY
(Screengrab via CNN)
A former White House spokesman found himself in a clash with a retired Army official on CNN late Friday during a heated discussion over a verbal tussle earlier in the day between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Trump and Zelensky got into a heated argument in front of stunned reporters and onlookers during their meeting at the White House.
Pete Seat, who served in former President George W. Bush's administration, joined CNN's "NewsNight" with host Abby Philip, who asked him whether Zelensky ought to have apologized to Trump.
"Absolutely he should've done it already," said Seat. "He should've done it in the Oval Office."
Seat sarcastically called the meeting "perfect" — "I'm being ironic in that, a little bit," he joked, cracking up fellow panelist retired Army Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman.
Seat insisted the first 40 minutes of the meeting were positive and cordial. He then blamed Zelensky for what unfolded.
"It wasn't until Zelensky got upset with J.D. Vance, the vice president said — and he was absolutely correct — that the previous administration was more interested in vapid wordsmithing than they were in bringing an end to this conflict," said Seat. "They cared more about applause lines at Davos than they did in ending the war in Ukraine. And he was correct about that."
Seat's comments sparked immediate discussion, with panelists trying to talk over Philip. Eventually, Vindman stepped in.
"This is nonsense. It's completely ahistorical," he declared, noting this is Trump's second administration after overseeing four years of war between Russia and Ukraine. "Didn't do anything about it. Now he thinks he has this idea to bring peace. And what does he do? He bends the knee. His goal is to appease Putin."
Vindman agreed with Seat that the Biden administration didn't do enough to support Ukraine, but declared its Russia — not Ukraine — "on the ropes."
"The way you get peace is you get Putin to negotiate," he said.
The two didn't agree, however, and they continued talking over each other about when the conflict officially began.
The Russo-Ukrainian War began in February 2014 following Ukraine's Revolution of Dignity, which led to the ousting of pro-Russian president Viktor Yanukovych. Shortly thereafter, Russia occupied and annexed Crimea from Ukraine.
Watch the clip below or at this link.
'You called him a butcher': CNN host pushes back at Rubio rant — using his own words
Erik De La Garza
February 28, 2025
RAW STORY
(Screengrab via CNN)
Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s fierce defense of President Donald Trump hours after his Oval Office dressing down of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made international waves was subjected to a healthy round of scrutiny by CNN’s Kaitlin Collins.
Rubio appeared on Collins’ primetime show “The Source” in an exclusive interview where he insisted Zelensky should apologize “for turning this thing into the fiasco for him that it became.”
“There was no need for him to go in there and become antagonistic. Look, this thing went off the rails,” Rubio said, later adding: “And I think he should apologize for wasting our time for a meeting that was going to end the way it did.
Rubio then launched into an extensive analysis of the situation surrounding the bloody Ukraine and Russia conflict, while assailing Zelensky for attacking Russian President Vladimir Putin, “no matter how anyone may feel about him personally.”
That’s when Collins jumped in to offer the former Florida senator a brutal reality check – using his own words against him.
“You yourself have said previously that Putin cannot be trusted in negotiations,” Collins told Rubio. “That was the point that President Zelensky was ultimately making during that conversation...I mean, do you still feel that way, that Putin cannot be trusted in these negotiations?”
“Well, I was there yesterday when the president said in front of the media that our approach is going to be trust but verify,” Rubio told the CNN, host before touting the president as a “dealmaker” who has “made deals his entire life.”
“He's not going to get suckered into some deal that's not a real deal,” Rubio said.
Collins then presented a different variation of her question, reminding Rubio that he previously said he believes “Putin is a war criminal, that that is a widely accepted fact.”
"You've called him a butcher, and you've said that as a secretary of state, you do believe it's important for someone with such global influence as you have to speak with that kind of moral clarity," Collins told Rubio.
"Yeah and at this moment, as secretary of state, my job working for the president is to deliver peace, to end this conflict and end this war," he said. "Ultimately, that is the job of the State Department, the State Department doesn't fight wars, it ends them, it tries to end them.
Watch the clip below or at this link:
Erik De La Garza
February 28, 2025
RAW STORY
(Screengrab via CNN)
Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s fierce defense of President Donald Trump hours after his Oval Office dressing down of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made international waves was subjected to a healthy round of scrutiny by CNN’s Kaitlin Collins.
Rubio appeared on Collins’ primetime show “The Source” in an exclusive interview where he insisted Zelensky should apologize “for turning this thing into the fiasco for him that it became.”
“There was no need for him to go in there and become antagonistic. Look, this thing went off the rails,” Rubio said, later adding: “And I think he should apologize for wasting our time for a meeting that was going to end the way it did.
Rubio then launched into an extensive analysis of the situation surrounding the bloody Ukraine and Russia conflict, while assailing Zelensky for attacking Russian President Vladimir Putin, “no matter how anyone may feel about him personally.”
That’s when Collins jumped in to offer the former Florida senator a brutal reality check – using his own words against him.
“You yourself have said previously that Putin cannot be trusted in negotiations,” Collins told Rubio. “That was the point that President Zelensky was ultimately making during that conversation...I mean, do you still feel that way, that Putin cannot be trusted in these negotiations?”
“Well, I was there yesterday when the president said in front of the media that our approach is going to be trust but verify,” Rubio told the CNN, host before touting the president as a “dealmaker” who has “made deals his entire life.”
“He's not going to get suckered into some deal that's not a real deal,” Rubio said.
Collins then presented a different variation of her question, reminding Rubio that he previously said he believes “Putin is a war criminal, that that is a widely accepted fact.”
"You've called him a butcher, and you've said that as a secretary of state, you do believe it's important for someone with such global influence as you have to speak with that kind of moral clarity," Collins told Rubio.
"Yeah and at this moment, as secretary of state, my job working for the president is to deliver peace, to end this conflict and end this war," he said. "Ultimately, that is the job of the State Department, the State Department doesn't fight wars, it ends them, it tries to end them.
Watch the clip below or at this link:
'You guys only saw the end!' Marco Rubio decries criticism after Trump-Zelensky fight
Matthew Chapman
February 28, 2025
Matthew Chapman
February 28, 2025
RAW STORY
FILE PHOTO: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the State Department in Washington, U.S., January 21, 2025. REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz
Secretary of State Marco Rubio leapt to President Donald Trump's defense Friday on CNN while discussing Trump's shouting match with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that ultimately saw the latter tossed out of the White House with no security guarantees in the war against Russia.
Rubio, despite his strong and outspoken defenses of Ukraine when he served in the Senate, now pushes the administration line that Ukraine must make compromises with Russia and sue for peace, even though the war is a one-sided Russian invasion.
"We just heard from President Zelensky; he said he does not think that he owes President Trump an apology for what happened inside the Oval Office today," said anchor Kaitlan Collins. "Do you feel otherwise?"
"I do, I do because you guys don't — see, you guys only saw the end," said Rubio. "You saw what happened today. You don't see all the things that led up to this. So let me explain. The president has been very clear. He campaigned on this. He thinks this war should have never started. He believes, and I agree, that had he been president, it never would have happened. Now, here we are. He's trying to bring an end to this conflict."
"We explained very clearly what our plan is here, which is we want to get the Russians to a negotiating table," Rubio continued. "We want to explore whether peace is possible. They understand this. They also understand that this agreement that was supposed to be signed today was supposed to be an agreement that binds America economically to Ukraine, which to me, as I explained, I think the president alluded to today, is a security guarantee in its own way because we're involved. It's not us, it's our interests. That was all explained. That was all understood. And nonetheless, for the last 10 days and every engagement we've had with the Ukrainians, there's been complications in getting that point across, including the public statements that President Zelensky has made. But they insisted on coming to D.C."
He added, "It should have been a very clear understanding. Don't come here and create a scenario where you're going to start lecturing us about how diplomacy isn't going to work, as President Zelensky took it in that direction, and it ended in a predictable outcome as a result. It's unfortunate that wasn't supposed to be this way, but that's the path he chose. And I think, frankly, you know, sends his country backwards in regards to achieving peace, which is what President Trump wants at the end of the day, is for this war to end. He's been as consistent as anyone can be about what his objective is here."
Watch the video below or at the link here.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio leapt to President Donald Trump's defense Friday on CNN while discussing Trump's shouting match with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that ultimately saw the latter tossed out of the White House with no security guarantees in the war against Russia.
Rubio, despite his strong and outspoken defenses of Ukraine when he served in the Senate, now pushes the administration line that Ukraine must make compromises with Russia and sue for peace, even though the war is a one-sided Russian invasion.
"We just heard from President Zelensky; he said he does not think that he owes President Trump an apology for what happened inside the Oval Office today," said anchor Kaitlan Collins. "Do you feel otherwise?"
"I do, I do because you guys don't — see, you guys only saw the end," said Rubio. "You saw what happened today. You don't see all the things that led up to this. So let me explain. The president has been very clear. He campaigned on this. He thinks this war should have never started. He believes, and I agree, that had he been president, it never would have happened. Now, here we are. He's trying to bring an end to this conflict."
"We explained very clearly what our plan is here, which is we want to get the Russians to a negotiating table," Rubio continued. "We want to explore whether peace is possible. They understand this. They also understand that this agreement that was supposed to be signed today was supposed to be an agreement that binds America economically to Ukraine, which to me, as I explained, I think the president alluded to today, is a security guarantee in its own way because we're involved. It's not us, it's our interests. That was all explained. That was all understood. And nonetheless, for the last 10 days and every engagement we've had with the Ukrainians, there's been complications in getting that point across, including the public statements that President Zelensky has made. But they insisted on coming to D.C."
He added, "It should have been a very clear understanding. Don't come here and create a scenario where you're going to start lecturing us about how diplomacy isn't going to work, as President Zelensky took it in that direction, and it ended in a predictable outcome as a result. It's unfortunate that wasn't supposed to be this way, but that's the path he chose. And I think, frankly, you know, sends his country backwards in regards to achieving peace, which is what President Trump wants at the end of the day, is for this war to end. He's been as consistent as anyone can be about what his objective is here."
Watch the video below or at the link here.
Slumped Marco Rubio mocked as literally 'spineless' during Zelensky-Trump dust-up
Sarah K. Burris
February 28, 2025
RAW STORY
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks as U.S. President Donald Trump meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 28, 2025. REUTERS/Brian Snyder
Secretary of State Marco Rubio's curious body language drew scorn on social media as he sat slumped next to Vice President J.D. Vance in the Oval Office as President Donald Trump berated Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Onlookers homed in on Rubio's posture and pained expression.
One person compared Rubio to the stuffed lounge chair "Chairy," who was a character on "Pee-wee's Playhouse."
" Marco Rubio just sat there like a useless sack of s---. What a global embarrassment," said "Mueller, She Wrote" founder Allison Gill.
The Onion's Amy Ash posted a photo of Rubio saying it looked like "my dog when I ask what’s in his mouth."
"When mom asks if you wet the bed again," labor journalist Kim Kelly joked.
ALSO READ: 'Absolutely unconscionable': Ex-Republican demands Trump removed from office after fight
"Marco Rubio was Tragically Born Without A Spine," said Florida journalist Grant Stern. "Proof," he posted with the Rubio photo.
Santiago Mayer, executive director of Voters of Tomorrow, said that "if Marco Rubio had a spine he would resign before the end of the day."
Comedian and actor Michael Ian Black asked, "Marco Rubio was there?"
Writer and journalist Steven Beschloss asked, "Hey, Marco Rubio. Enjoying your decision to throw away whatever last shreds of your dignity to serve this disgraceful human?"
Wall Street Journal national security reporter Vera Bergengruen pointed out, "Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s body language during the Trump-Zelensky Oval Office blowup vs. his tweet afterward.
The tweet from Rubio said, "Thank you, @POTUS for standing up for America in a way that no President has ever had the courage to do before. Thank you for putting America First. America is with you!"
The most recent Quinnipiac University poll revealed 8 in 10 Americans say Russian President Vladimir Putin should not be trusted.
Kyiv-based foreign policy and security analyst Jimmy Rushton responded to Rubio's tweet by asking, "You realize other presidents have literally fought wars to defend America, right?"
See the video from CSPAN below or at the link here.
Sarah K. Burris
February 28, 2025
RAW STORY
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks as U.S. President Donald Trump meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 28, 2025. REUTERS/Brian Snyder
Secretary of State Marco Rubio's curious body language drew scorn on social media as he sat slumped next to Vice President J.D. Vance in the Oval Office as President Donald Trump berated Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Onlookers homed in on Rubio's posture and pained expression.
One person compared Rubio to the stuffed lounge chair "Chairy," who was a character on "Pee-wee's Playhouse."
" Marco Rubio just sat there like a useless sack of s---. What a global embarrassment," said "Mueller, She Wrote" founder Allison Gill.
The Onion's Amy Ash posted a photo of Rubio saying it looked like "my dog when I ask what’s in his mouth."
"When mom asks if you wet the bed again," labor journalist Kim Kelly joked.
ALSO READ: 'Absolutely unconscionable': Ex-Republican demands Trump removed from office after fight
"Marco Rubio was Tragically Born Without A Spine," said Florida journalist Grant Stern. "Proof," he posted with the Rubio photo.
Santiago Mayer, executive director of Voters of Tomorrow, said that "if Marco Rubio had a spine he would resign before the end of the day."
Comedian and actor Michael Ian Black asked, "Marco Rubio was there?"
Writer and journalist Steven Beschloss asked, "Hey, Marco Rubio. Enjoying your decision to throw away whatever last shreds of your dignity to serve this disgraceful human?"
Wall Street Journal national security reporter Vera Bergengruen pointed out, "Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s body language during the Trump-Zelensky Oval Office blowup vs. his tweet afterward.
The tweet from Rubio said, "Thank you, @POTUS for standing up for America in a way that no President has ever had the courage to do before. Thank you for putting America First. America is with you!"
The most recent Quinnipiac University poll revealed 8 in 10 Americans say Russian President Vladimir Putin should not be trusted.
Kyiv-based foreign policy and security analyst Jimmy Rushton responded to Rubio's tweet by asking, "You realize other presidents have literally fought wars to defend America, right?"
See the video from CSPAN below or at the link here.
'Let's get our big boy pants on here': Rubio scolded by ex-Trump national security adviser
Erik De La Garza
February 28, 2025
Erik De La Garza
February 28, 2025
RAW STORY
(Screengrab via CNN)
The epic blowup inside the Oval Office Friday that pitted Donald Trump and J.D. Vance against Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was a “disaster for the United States,” according to longtime Republican John Bolton, who delivered a searing takedown of Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Bolton, a former national security adviser under Trump’s first administration, weighed in on the international kerfuffle during an interview on CNN’s “The Source,” where he spelled out what the catastrophic breakdown surrounding the negotiations means.
But Bolton saved his fiercest jabs for Rubio's on-air defense of the Trump administration just moments earlier – going as far as to address the former Florida senator directly
“Come on, let's get our big boy pants on here,” Bolton said. “Watching Marco on your show the first half hour was very sad for me, very sad.”
The onetime Trump administration official marveled at how Rubio was once a “strong defender of a vigorous American foreign policy in the wider world,” which he added “keeps us safer at home.”
“And yet he talked about how hard it is to get the poor Russian regime to the table to negotiate,” Bolton continued. “One reason it's getting harder to get the Russians to negotiate is that Donald Trump is giving them everything they want.”
Bolton, a staple in Republican presidential administrations since Ronald Reagan, who also served as United Nations ambassador under George W. Bush, then grabbed onto the chance to take Rubio to school.
“And remember what kind of regime in Moscow we're talking about, Marco,” he said, wagging his finger. “This is the regime that backs Ortega in Nicaragua. It's the regime that backs Maduro in Venezuela. It's the regime that backs the post-Castro regime in Cuba, Marco. That's the Russia we're talking about.”
Bolton added that Putin “is one of the coldest blooded individuals I’ve ever met” and concluded that he hasn’t had to make an appearance at the negotiation table because “Trump’s got the flood running in his direction.
CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, who was inside the Oval Office for what devolved into a spectacular shouting match, called the event “a remarkable day” and “one for the history books.”
Watch the clip below or at this link:
(Screengrab via CNN)
The epic blowup inside the Oval Office Friday that pitted Donald Trump and J.D. Vance against Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was a “disaster for the United States,” according to longtime Republican John Bolton, who delivered a searing takedown of Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Bolton, a former national security adviser under Trump’s first administration, weighed in on the international kerfuffle during an interview on CNN’s “The Source,” where he spelled out what the catastrophic breakdown surrounding the negotiations means.
But Bolton saved his fiercest jabs for Rubio's on-air defense of the Trump administration just moments earlier – going as far as to address the former Florida senator directly
“Come on, let's get our big boy pants on here,” Bolton said. “Watching Marco on your show the first half hour was very sad for me, very sad.”
The onetime Trump administration official marveled at how Rubio was once a “strong defender of a vigorous American foreign policy in the wider world,” which he added “keeps us safer at home.”
“And yet he talked about how hard it is to get the poor Russian regime to the table to negotiate,” Bolton continued. “One reason it's getting harder to get the Russians to negotiate is that Donald Trump is giving them everything they want.”
Bolton, a staple in Republican presidential administrations since Ronald Reagan, who also served as United Nations ambassador under George W. Bush, then grabbed onto the chance to take Rubio to school.
“And remember what kind of regime in Moscow we're talking about, Marco,” he said, wagging his finger. “This is the regime that backs Ortega in Nicaragua. It's the regime that backs Maduro in Venezuela. It's the regime that backs the post-Castro regime in Cuba, Marco. That's the Russia we're talking about.”
Bolton added that Putin “is one of the coldest blooded individuals I’ve ever met” and concluded that he hasn’t had to make an appearance at the negotiation table because “Trump’s got the flood running in his direction.
CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, who was inside the Oval Office for what devolved into a spectacular shouting match, called the event “a remarkable day” and “one for the history books.”
Watch the clip below or at this link:
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