AssetID: 54839762
Headline: UNCAPTIONED: Zelensky Regrets Oval Office Clash but Urges Trump to Back Stronger Action Against Russia
Caption: Zelensky Regrets Oval Office Clash but Urges Trump to Back Stronger Action Against Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed regret over a tense Oval Office meeting with Donald Trump in February, citing wartime urgency as the cause. In an interview from Odessa, Zelensky said he was seeking “concrete decisions” to help Ukraine, but the meeting spiraled due to unmet expectations. Zelensky acknowledged the time constraints of war: “Not my personal time, but the time of my country.” He described a later one-on-one with Trump at the Vatican as “much better,” calling the president “friendly.” Despite friction, Ukraine and the U.S. later signed a postwar economic pact to jointly develop Ukraine’s rare earth minerals. Zelensky has been working to improve ties with Trump since the White House meeting, knowing future aid may depend on that relationship. He stressed the need for a successful future Oval Office meeting: “The lives of many people depend on it. And peace depends on it.” Trump, once focused on pushing Ukraine into territorial concessions, is now showing openness to prolonging resistance as Putin avoids real negotiations. Zelensky urged Washington to act with urgency and keep pressure on Moscow through stronger sanctions. He’ll make another direct appeal to Trump at next week’s G7 summit in the Canadian Rockies. Trump recently showed skepticism toward new sanctions on Russia, calling proposed measures “very harsh.” Instructions: THIS VIDEO MUST NOT BE EDITED FOR LENGTH TO COMBINE WITH OTHER CONTENT
Keywords: Current Affairs & Politics,Volodymyr Zelensky,President,Donald Trump,Oval Office,Ukraine,war,sanctions,peace talks,Putin,rare earth minerals,G7 summit,U.S.-Ukraine relations,Odessa interview
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