Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said tonight that it was a miracle that United States President Donald Trump and US Vice President J.D. Vance refrained from hitting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during a live television altercation, Reuters reported.
Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky received a "solid slap" from President Donald Trump at the White House, according to Reuters.
"A brutal lesson reading in the Oval Office," Medvedev, who is deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council, posted on Telegram.
Zelensky's visit to the White House was cut short earlier than planned today after he got into a heated argument with Trump and US Vice President J.D. Vance, who accused him of "disrespect" during a conversation in the Oval Office of the White House.
Zelensky has left the White House.
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During the meeting, Trump repeatedly told Zelensky that he was "gambling with the lives of millions, with World War III" and insisted that he stop insisting on additional security guarantees, saying: "Either you make a deal or we're pulling out."
The US president has tried to gloss over the differences between the two, positioning himself as “both pro-Ukraine and pro-Russia” while trying to broker a peace deal. This stands in stark contrast to Zelensky, who has called Putin a “murderer” and a “terrorist” who invaded Ukraine, and has stressed that he is not ready to compromise on Ukrainian territory.
The two leaders have clashed repeatedly over their positions on Russia and the negotiations, as well as the extent of European support for Ukraine.
A joint press conference, at which the minerals agreement was to be signed, was also canceled.
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