When Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrives in Washington on Aug. 18 for pivotal talks over the way forward for Russia’s conflict in Ukraine, he will probably be backed by a number of of his European allies.
That could 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 conflict in Ukraine, he will probably be backed by a number of of his European allies.
That could 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 conflict stretches previous its third 12 months and Trump vacillates between Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Their stormy historical past goes all the best way again to Trump’s first time period in workplace, when the U.S. chief withheld practically $400 million in navy help 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 rapidly ending the conflict a central purpose of his second presidency, his relationship with Zelensky has turn out to be much more vital.
Here’s a temporary timeline of a number of the two leaders’ most turbulent moments since Trump returned to workplace.
Feb. 19: Trump attacked Zelensky on Reality Social, calling him a “dictator with out elections.”
“I really like Ukraine, however Zelenskyy has accomplished 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 sources 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 take into account it optimistic, 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 trade in February.
After the assembly, Trump was publicly essential of Putin and expressed his frustration with recent Russian missile attacks in a put up on Reality Social. “It makes me assume that perhaps he doesn’t need to cease the conflict, he’s simply tapping me alongside, and must 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 Reality 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 though the weapons are “very exhausting to get,” “we’re going to see if we will make a few of them obtainable.”
July 4: Trump and Zelensky maintain a phone call. Later, Zelensky stated that call was “in all probability the most effective dialog” the 2 have had and “the best.”
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 folks and forestall lack of harmless life,” Kellogg later posted on X. “Final evening Ukraine sustained over 740 drone/missile assaults. A historic excessive quantity ever in historical past. The conflict must cease.”
Aug. 16: At some point 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 had been joined by different European leaders.
“On Monday, I’ll meet with President Trump in Washington, D.C., to debate all the particulars concerning ending the killing and the conflict,” he added. “I’m grateful for the invitation.”
Aug. 17: In a put up on Reality Social, Trump appeared to position the duty of ending the conflict completely on Zelensky.
“President Zelenskyy of Ukraine can finish the conflict with Russia nearly 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!!!”
