Zelensky walked into Trump trap, expert says after Oval Office clash
A German political scientist believes that the heated argument between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Voloydmyr Zelensky at the White House was a calculated move by Trump.
"That was reality TV star Donald Trump, doing exactly what he does: trashing someone on camera," Thomas Jäger from Cologne University said in an interview with broadcaster n-tv.
"That was his trademark for a long time and he had it all planned out," Jäger said, adding that Zelensky had walked into the trap laid out for him.
"That's no coincidence, that's no provocation. A manuscript was acted out," the expert said about Friday's meeting which saw Trump and his Vice President JD Vance berate Zelensky in front of rolling cameras.
What was intended as an opportunity to discuss security and economic cooperation soon devolved into a shouting match in front of press at the Oval Office.
Vance accused Zelensky of not being thankful enough for years of US assistance against Russia's full-scale invasion, while Trump told the Ukrainian president to make a deal with Russia or else face losing US support.
"You're gambling with the lives of millions of people," he said, pointing at Zelensky. "You're gambling with World War III."
Zelensky, visibly frustrated, tried to explain why he did not believe diplomacy was sufficient to convince Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war, suggesting that the United States would also feel the effects if Ukraine was forced to accept a peace deal on Russia's terms.
The talks were cut short and the Ukrainian delegation left the White House briefly afterwards, leaving a planned minerals deal unsigned.
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