Speaker Mike Johnson highlighted on Sunday the possibility of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy needing to resign to bring peace to his country following a tense meeting involving President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance on Friday.
Zelenskyy’s Dilemma
Johnson emphasized the necessity for change, stating, ‘Either he needs to come to his senses and return to the table with gratitude, or another individual must step up to lead the country towards that goal.’
These remarks from Johnson followed a heated exchange between Zelenskyy, Trump, and Vance in the Oval Office, where Zelenskyy faced accusations of insufficient gratitude for U.S. efforts to end the war and reluctance to engage in peace talks.
The Fallout
Expressing disappointment in Zelenskyy’s behavior, Johnson criticized the Ukrainian President’s actions during an interview on CNN’s ‘State of the Union.’
The anticipated signing of a minerals deal aimed at securing Ukraine’s future was overshadowed by the Oval Office confrontation, leading to the cancellation of the remainder of Zelenskyy’s visit. Trump took to Truth Social to express his discontent, claiming that Zelenskyy had ‘disrespected’ the Oval Office and could only return ‘when ready for Peace.’
Subsequently, Zelenskyy was escorted out of the White House, prompting further backlash towards Trump for his handling of the situation.
Political Reactions
Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski criticized Trump’s treatment of Zelenskyy, accusing the U.S. of ‘walking away from our allies and embracing Putin.’
Johnson defended Trump’s stance on the failed meeting while condemning Russia and Putin, a move Trump has refrained from making since his return to office.
Expressing his desire to see Putin defeated, Johnson labeled him as an adversary of the United States and emphasized the need to end the conflict for the benefit of all parties involved.
Asserting that Putin is the aggressor in an unjust war, Johnson reiterated the U.S.’s stance on the conflict.
