On the sidelines of a chaotic White House meeting, Trump repeatedly complained about not receiving the Nobel Peace Prize while pressuring Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Donbas terms.
Trump’s Turbulent Meeting With Zelensky
The Financial Times described the White House encounter as chaotic, noting Trump repeatedly berated Zelensky. The Washington Post later revealed that a European diplomat who observed the Friday meeting called it chaotic and highlighted that Trump kept returning to complaints about not receiving the Nobel Peace Prize.
Claims About the Nobel Prize
During the discussion, Trump expressed frustration over being overlooked for the Nobel Peace Prize, repeatedly bringing it up.
Russia’s Stated Desire for Donbas
Trump reportedly told Zelensky that Russia only seeks Donbas, describing the arrangement as a “good deal” with Putin who wants to end the conflict quickly.
Trump’s Position on Ukraine’s Negotiations
Trump warned Zelensky that Ukraine would be destroyed if it did not agree to Putin’s conditions and urged him to hand over all of Donbas. Despite this, the Financial Times said Zelensky persuaded Trump to support maintaining the present front line.
Trump’s Response to Media Question
When journalists asked if he had urged the Ukrainian president to cede Donbas, Trump denied it, saying they had never discussed that. He also noted that 78% of Ukrainian territory is already occupied by Russia and concluded that the situation should remain as it is.
