Mark Rutte, NATO secretary general, has weighed in on Zelenskyy and Trump’s heated meeting
A meeting between President Zelenskyy and Donald Trump earlier this week didn’t go very well.
On Friday, February 28, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy flew to Washington, D.C., for a high-stakes meeting with former U.S. President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance.
Trump, who has recently hosted several world leaders at the White House—including UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron—has maintained a firm stance on global diplomacy. While those meetings reportedly went smoothly, his conversation with Zelenskyy took a far more contentious turn.
During their tense exchange, the 78-year-old Trump accused Zelenskyy of “gambling with World War 3” amid Ukraine’s ongoing fight against Russia.
“You don’t have the cards right now,” Trump told the Ukrainian leader. “With us, you start having cards… You’re gambling with the lives of millions of people! You’re gambling with World War 3! And what you’re doing is very disrespectful—to this country.”
In the wake of their chaotic meeting, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte weighed in, calling the situation “unfortunate.” Despite the heated rhetoric, Rutte expressed confidence that Trump remained committed to securing a “durable peace” for Ukraine and standing by NATO.
The NATO chief also urged Zelenskyy to mend ties with Trump, revealing details of a phone call with the Ukrainian president.
“What I told President Zelenskyy is that I think you have to find a way, dear Volodymyr, to restore your relationship with Donald Trump and the American administration. That is important going forward.”
Currently in the UK, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy received a warm and reassuring welcome from Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who pledged unwavering British support for Ukraine.
“Let me just say that you’re very, very welcome here in Downing Street,” Starmer told Zelenskyy, acknowledging the Ukrainian leader’s relentless fight as the war with Russia enters its third year.
Reaffirming the UK’s commitment, Starmer emphasized the nation’s solidarity with Ukraine:
“That is the people of the United Kingdom coming out to demonstrate how much they support you, how much they support Ukraine, and our absolute determination to stand with you—unwavering determination—to achieve what we both want to achieve, which is a lasting peace.”
“A lasting peace for Ukraine, based on sovereignty and security—so important for Ukraine, so important for Europe, and so important for the United Kingdom,” Prime Minister Keir Starmer added, reinforcing Britain’s steadfast commitment to Ukraine’s future.
As part of his visit to England, Zelenskyy is also scheduled to meet with King Charles today (March 2), marking another significant diplomatic engagement during his time in the UK.
