Zelenskyy Defies Trump: A Post That May Repeat the "February Spat"

All eyes are on Washington as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrives, seemingly in open defiance of the terms proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump for a peace plan with Russia. This challenge comes just hours before their highly anticipated meeting in the Oval Office, raising questions about how the high-stakes encounter will unfold and the future of U.S. support for Ukraine.

Trump's Conditions and the Decisive Ukrainian Response

Trump laid out his conditions for ending the war on his "Truth Social" platform, stating that Zelenskyy could "end the war immediately" if he wanted to. Trump demanded that Ukraine cede the Crimean Peninsula and abandon its bid to join NATO, asserting that "some things don't change."

The Ukrainian response was swift. Just 90 minutes later, Zelenskyy wrote on "X," affirming that Russia started the war and must be the one to end it. He categorically rejected ceding Crimea or allowing Russia to use any parts of Ukrainian territory as a launching pad for new attacks, emphasizing that the Ukrainian people are fighting to defend their land and independence.

An Attempt to Avoid Direct Confrontation

Despite the strong tone of his response, Zelenskyy tried to avoid escalating tensions with Trump. He expressed gratitude for American and European support, affirming his confidence in Ukraine's ability to defend itself and his people's gratitude to Trump, America, and all allies for their backing. This dual stance shows Zelenskyy's attempt to deliver a firm message on Ukrainian sovereignty while not alienating Trump before their meeting.

Fears of a Repeat of the "February Spat"

The charged atmosphere raises concerns about a repeat of what happened last February when the Oval Office was the scene of a "historic" confrontation between Trump and Zelenskyy. In that meeting, Vice President JD Vance accused Zelenskyy of conducting "propaganda tours," while Trump escalated his rhetoric, saying, "You are gambling on starting World War III... Either you make a deal, or we'll walk away." He added that Zelenskyy was "not acting at all grateful. That's not a nice thing to do." The meeting ended with Zelenskyy leaving early.

Today's meeting comes just a few days after a secret two-and-a-half-hour meeting between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, which further complicates the already sensitive situation.