Financetwitter:
Now Zelensky Wants A Second Shot After U.S. Halt Military Aid To Ukraine – But Trump Wants A Public Apology First
March 6th, 2025 by financetwitter
Biting the hand that feeds him, former actor and comedian Zelensky thought he could afford to pick a fight with Trump, a reality television show celebrity turned president. But all the leaders of Europe were shocked – incredibly shocked – with how the U.S. president treated the hero whom they worshipped as “Winston Churchill 2.0” at the end of the meeting at the White House.
For three years in the United States, thanks to Democrats Joe Biden, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was given standing ovations from Congress, posed for glossy photo shoots, and received regular envoys of politicians, celebrities, and press from the West. Wearing a “military-style black or olive green sweatshirt”, Zelensky behaves as if he was really Churchill.
But the aggressive and vengeful “alpha male” Trump was instantly provoked when the Ukrainian leader lectured him and his deputy – Vice President Vance – about how to negotiate a peace deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin. It quickly turned into a “no holds barred” match when tag-team Trump-Vance took turns bashing Zelensky, who had miscalculated his tactical move.
It was one thing to publicly cross and question his greatest ally, who is the major sponsor in terms of military and financial aid to Ukraine. It’s another thing altogether to roll his eyes and crossed his arms in defiance while throwing hostile words at the Commander-in-Chief in his Oval Office. There is only one consequence for disrespecting the office of the U.S. president.
Mr Zelensky was kicked out, his lunch was eaten by the White House staffs, and warned not to come back until he is ready to sign the deal which grants U.S. mining of rare minerals in Ukraine. It was definitely not one of the “Apprentice” episodes scripted for television audience as a stone-faced delegation of the Ukrainians left empty-handed, still shocked over what had just transpired.
Interestingly, Trump and Vance was not the only first who have slammed Zelensky for being disrespectful and ungrateful. Back in June of 2022, President Joe Biden too lost his temper when he had barely finished telling Zelensky over the phone that he had just approved another US$1 billion in U.S. military assistance when the Ukrainian leader started listing all the additional things he wanted and wasn’t getting.
Frustrated, Joe Biden yelled that Zelensky should be showing more gratitude for the billions in aid he was getting from the United States via the American people. A year later, the Biden administration went ballistic again. This time, national security adviser Jake Sullivan condemned Zelensky after he whined and bitched endlessly about not getting his candy – NATO membership.
Even his own supporter, former British Defence Secretary Ben Wallace, lost patience when Zelensky repeatedly behaved like a spoiled child who gets everything he wants and it’s still not enough. He said Ukraine should be more grateful for Western support. Even Zelensky’s own ambassador to the United Kingdom, Vadym Prystaiko, had criticized him for picking a fight with Wallace, only to be fired.
When Donald Trump won the election last November, Zelensky still thought the world revolves around Ukraine and the U.S. owes him a living. In his own fantasy bubble, he believes Uncle Sam will blindly give him anything he wants just by flashing “democracy and Russia” cards. However, Trump doesn’t care about defending democracy, not to mention one of his best friends is Putin.
Trump was trying to be patient, but erupted when Zelensky warned that the U.S. would “feel” the threat of Russia “in the future.” The frustrated POTUS told Zelensky – “You’re gambling with World War III,” before warning him – “You’re in no position to dictate what we’re going to feel.” Crucially, the Ukrainian leader was lectured – “You don’t have the cards right now”.
Essentially, the U.S. president has revealed why Russia has already won the war. First, Trump isn’t going to war with Russia, or China for that matter, if it means starting World War III. This means Taiwan has to defend itself if invaded by the Chinese. Second, Ukraine will get protection and money only if it obeys what Washington tells it to do, which includes surrendering the mineral-rights.
Russia seems to have an almost limitless supply of recruits and raw materials. It is basically fighting a war with Ukraine, the U.S. and 27-nation European Union. Yet, Putin’s soldiers had captured 20% of Ukrainian territories despite the U.S. spending US$182.8 billion and the E.U. burning US$138.7 billion between 2022 and 2024. This is why Trump wants to end this madness war which the West cannot win.
Rubbing salt in the wound, Russia celebrated the bitter clash between Trump and Zelensky, saying the Ukrainian president got what he deserved. The Kremlin insulted “insolent pig Zelensky got proper slap down”. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said it was a miracle that Trump and Vance restrained themselves from “hitting” Zelensky.
The Ukrainian president rushed to meet British Prime Minister Keir Starmer after the clash at the White House. Clueless Starmer welcomed Zelensky as if he had conquered Russia. The UK prime minister hosted a summit as a show of support for Ukraine. While European leaders rallied behind Zelensky following the clash, NATO’s secretary general advised the Ukrainian leader to “find a way” to restore his relationship with Trump.
However, it was too late and the damage is done. Praises for Zelensky has done more harm than good. The EU solidarity for Ukraine backfires when Trump decisively suspends military aid to the country, precisely what Russia desires. Vladimir Putin’s team had earlier suggested the US’ pause to military aid as likely to be the “best” contribution to peace. Zelensky knew his poker game didn’t work.
In total panic, Mr Zelensky made a spectacular U-Turn. He now says he is ready to work under Donald Trump’s “strong leadership” to achieve a lasting peace days. The Ukrainian president described the White House showdown as “regrettable” in a lengthy social media post in the wake of the U.S. announcing a pause in military aid. Heck, he even expressed his readiness to sign the minerals deal with America.
But Trump administration wants Zelensky to publicly apologize first, despite the arrogant Ukrainian leader’s willingness to kowtow and bend over. It will be a huge humiliation because Zelensky, who has also accused Trump of living in a “disinformation space”, had insisted that Ukraine would only agree to peace if its security was guaranteed, otherwise it would fight on.
Ungrateful Zelensky appears to have woken up to the reality that even with its European allies, it’s still possible that Moscow could launch a full-scale invasion without the U.S. support. Trump deliberately suspended U.S. military aid because he knew Ukraine would collapse in a matter of months without American support. There have been tonnes of rhetoric from the E.U.
British prime minister claims plans are advancing for a multinational military forces to help protect Ukraine, with about 20 countries involved in talks. But only the UK and France have so far said they are willing to send troops. Russia, however, said it wouldn’t accept any troops from NATO members as peacekeepers. Putin isn’t in a hurry to end the war. Trump is, and that’s a huge problem for Ukraine and Europe.
To teach Zelensky a lesson he won’t forget, not only Trump has suspended military aid to the country, but also has cut off intelligence-sharing with Kyiv in a move to cripple Ukrainian military’s ability to target Russia forces. Putin played the long game whilst the U.S. played the short politics. It’s astonishing how Zelensky’s 10-minute temper tantrum changes the endgame of the 3-year-old Ukraine War.
