1 month ago
Last Updated:March 02, 2025, 16:35 IST
A staunch critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin and one of Ukraine’s biggest defenders on the Republican side, Graham met Zelenskyy before the latter's Oval Office meeting on February 28.
US President Donald Trump and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy meet in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC. (AFP photo)
Republican senator and a known Trump ally, Lindsey Graham has said that he had warned Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy “not to take the bait" and getting into an argument with US President Donald Trump hours before the extraordinary diplomatic meet between the two leaders at the White House that stunned the world.
A staunch critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin and one of Ukraine’s biggest defenders on the Republican side, Graham met Zelenskyy before the latter’s Oval Office meeting on February 28.
“I told him this morning, ‘Don’t take the bait. Don’t let the media or anyone else get you into an argument with President Trump. What he’s doing today is resetting the relationship’," he told the reporters.
The senator further backed Trump and Vice-President JD Vance for standing for the Americans. He suggested Zelenskyy to step down saying that it’s uncertain whether the United States can ever do business with Zelenskyy.
“What I saw in the Oval Office was disrespectful, and I don’t know if we could ever do business with Zelenskyy again. I think most Americans saw a guy that they would not want to go in business with, the way he handled the meeting," the South Carolina Republican added.
What Happened During Trump- Zelenskyy Meet
What started as a courteous photo opportunity devolved into a shouting match between the two leaders, plunging the relations between the two countries to a new low.
At the oval Office meeting, Trump dressed down Zelenskyy and said that the latter is “gambling with World War Three". He further said that a truce with Russia is “fairly close" and that the deal allowing US to use Ukraine’s natural resources would be “very fair."
The conversation escalated very quickly as Zelenskyy asked the US Vice-President if he’s been to Ukraine “to see our problems" to which JD Vance dismissively replied that he’s read about it and seen it.
Reprimanding Zelenskyy, Trump said, “We’re going to feel very good and very strong."
When Trump was asked about concerns about siding too much with Putin, he said he was only allied with American interests. “If I didn’t align myself with both of them, you’d never have a deal. You want me to say really terrible things about Putin and then say, ‘Hi, Vladimir, how are we doing on the deal?’ That doesn’t work that way."
Trump later cancelled a scheduled joint press conference with Zelenskyy. Meanwhile, a planned White House lunch was also scrapped.
Later Zelenskyy and team Ukraine were asked to leave the White House after their meeting with Trump collapsed when JD Vance accused him of having “disrespected" the US.
Location :Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)
First Published:March 02, 2025, 16:35 IST
News world ‘Don't Take The Bait’: US Senator's Warning To Zelenskyy Ahead Of Oval Office Showdown
