When Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrives in Washington on Aug. 18 for pivotal talks over the way forward for Russia’s warfare in Ukraine, he might be backed by a number of of his European allies.
Which may be as a result of when Zelensky was final on the town for talks in February, a extremely watched diplomatic assembly—which was supposed to attract Kyiv and Washington nearer collectively—quickly devolved into an explosive shouting match with U.S. President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance.
When Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrives in Washington on Aug. 18 for pivotal talks over the way forward for Russia’s warfare in Ukraine, he might be backed by a number of of his European allies.
Which may be as a result of when Zelensky was final on the town for talks in February, a extremely watched diplomatic assembly—which was supposed to attract Kyiv and Washington nearer collectively—quickly devolved into an explosive shouting match with U.S. President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance.
It’s a mirrored image of the 2 leaders’ tumultuous and shifting relationship because the Russia-Ukraine warfare stretches previous its third yr and Trump vacillates between Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Their stormy historical past goes all the way in which again to Trump’s first time period in workplace, when the U.S. chief withheld practically $400 million in army support from Ukraine after which urged Zelensky to investigate Trump’s then-political rival Joe Biden and his son Hunter—finally resulting in his first impeachment.
However since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and since Trump made shortly ending the warfare a central aim of his second presidency, his relationship with Zelensky has develop into much more necessary.
Here’s a transient timeline of among the two leaders’ most turbulent moments since Trump returned to workplace.
Feb. 19: Trump attacked Zelensky on Fact Social, calling him a “dictator with out elections.”
“I really like Ukraine, however Zelenskyy has executed a horrible job, his Nation is shattered, and MILLIONS have unnecessarily died – And so it continues,” Trump posted.
Feb. 28: Zelensky visited the White Home to debate a possible U.S.-Ukraine pure assets deal. However the talks rapidly collapsed in entrance of reports media within the Oval Workplace as each Trump and Vance loudly spoke over and berated the Ukrainian chief, accusing him of being “disrespectful” and of not exhibiting sufficient gratitude for all the assistance that the USA has given Ukraine.
“[Zelensky] disrespected the USA of America in its cherished Oval Workplace,” Trump posted on Truth Social afterward. “He can come again when he’s prepared for Peace.”
March 11: Zelensky introduced that Ukraine has accepted a 30-day cease-fire proposal after U.S. and Ukrainian officers held peace talks in Saudi Arabia. In flip, Washington introduced that it could resume intelligence sharing and safety help to Kyiv.
“Ukraine accepts this proposal, we think about it constructive, we’re able to take such a step, and the USA of America should persuade Russia to take action,” Zelensky stated.
April 26: Trump and Zelensky held a 15-minute one-on-one assembly in Rome on the sidelines of Pope Francis’s funeral, marking the 2 leaders’ first assembly since their fiery alternate in February.
After the assembly, Trump was publicly vital of Putin and expressed his frustration with recent Russian missile attacks in a publish on Fact Social. “It makes me suppose that possibly he doesn’t wish to cease the warfare, he’s simply tapping me alongside, and needs to be handled in another way, by means of ‘Banking’ or ‘Secondary Sanctions?’” Trump wrote. “Too many individuals are dying!!!”
Could 18: Zelensky met with Vance and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Italy, on the U.S. ambassador’s residence in Rome.
Could 19: Trump spoke with Zelensky before a two-hour cellphone name with Putin and knowledgeable the Ukrainian chief of what was mentioned afterward. “Russia and Ukraine will instantly begin negotiations towards a Ceasefire and, extra importantly, an END to the Warfare,” Trump posted on Fact Social.
July 24: Trump and Zelensky met for 50 minutes on the sidelines of a NATO summit. After the talks, Trump appeared to think about sending extra Patriot missiles to Kyiv, telling reporters that although the weapons are “very exhausting to get,” “we’re going to see if we will make a few of them accessible.”
July 4: Trump and Zelensky maintain a phone call. Later, Zelensky stated that call was “most likely the most effective dialog” the 2 have had and “the most efficient.”
Trump later introduced that he’ll resume sending weapons to Ukraine, days after a shock White Home announcement that the Protection Division would pause a few of these weapons shipments.
July 9: Zelensky mentioned Ukraine’s defense with Keith Kellogg, the Trump administration’s Russia-Ukraine particular envoy. “We proceed to assist Ukraine defend its individuals and forestall lack of harmless life,” Kellogg later posted on X. “Final night time Ukraine sustained over 740 drone/missile assaults. A historic excessive quantity ever in historical past. The warfare must cease.”
Aug. 16: Someday after the Trump-Putin summit in Anchorage, Alaska, Zelensky posted on X that he had a “lengthy and substantive dialog” with Trump. The 2 spoke one-on-one for about an hour, he stated, after which have been joined by different European leaders.
“On Monday, I’ll meet with President Trump in Washington, D.C., to debate the entire particulars concerning ending the killing and the warfare,” he added. “I’m grateful for the invitation.”
Aug. 17: In a publish on Fact Social, Trump appeared to position the duty of ending the warfare totally on Zelensky.
“President Zelenskyy of Ukraine can finish the warfare with Russia virtually instantly, if he needs to, or he can proceed to battle,” he wrote. “Bear in mind the way it began. No getting again [former U.S. President Barack] Obama given Crimea (12 years in the past, and not using a shot being fired!), and NO GOING INTO NATO BY UKRAINE. Some issues by no means change!!!”
