This led to an abrupt cancellation of a scheduled press conference. Shortly after, he was escorted away from the White House, and Trump took to social media to deliver a blunt message: “Come back when you’re ready for peace.”
Following the meeting, Zelensky embarked on a diplomatic tour, traveling to Canada and England to rally international support. Before he changed his tone on Tuesday his initial social media responses suggested resistance to peace negotiations.
He also reiterated that he would not relinquish his leadership until Ukraine was accepted into NATO, a prospect that remains a significant point of contention in the conflict. The possibility of Ukraine joining NATO was one of the driving factors behind Russia’s invasion three years ago.
Even if it took Trump cutting aid to Ukraine to get Zelensky committed to Peace it was worth it.
