Zelenskyy's treatment during meeting with Trump 'disgusting, disrespectful,' says Ukrainian in Saskatoon
CBC
A Ukrainian in Saskatoon says she's angry and disgusted by what happened at a meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy Friday morning.
Just days after the third anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Trump and Zelenskyy had an explosive showdown in the Oval Office.
In a heated confrontation, Trump and U.S. Vice-President JD Vance berated Zelenskyy, accusing him of not being thankful for the support the United States has provided in the war, and calling him "disrespectful" for coming to Washington, D.C., to negotiate an agreement between the two nations with American media in the room.
The planned meeting was supposed to finalize an agreement granting the U.S. access to rare Ukrainian minerals in exchange for ongoing military support in the war against Russia. But that conversation went off the rails and ended without a deal, and Zelenskyy left the White House early.
"Talk about Americans being our neighbours, it's just disgusting, disrespectful, unbelievable," said Pat Tymchatyn, president of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress-Saskatoon in a Friday interview.
WATCH | Trump, Vance berate Zelenskyy at the White House on Friday:
Tymchatyn said as a Canadian Ukrainian who has been watching what's happening in Ukraine since 2014, when Russia annexed Crimea, the meeting was "shocking" and "shameful."
"Zelenskyy has been working very hard over his term. He's a democratically elected president and they basically ganged up on him. Two bullies wouldn't let him talk," she said.
She said she and other members of the Ukrainian community are thankful to Canada for its continuing support in Ukraine, but more needs to be done if allies like the U.S. aren't going to show up.
"The United States is not ready to actually work on behalf of Ukraine. They're working on behalf of a dictator, [Russian President Vladimir] Putin. They're not working on behalf of the free world," Tymchatyn said.
"Our whole world order is falling, is collapsing."
Lee Reaney, the chief editor of Lviv Times — a Ukrainian lifestyles magazine — and a writer who has spent years covering Ukraine, hopes the agreement will still happen, and both sides will see the benefit in partnering.
"The agreement was for the Americans to get access to rare earth materials. It was a way for the Americans to make money from Ukraine and it was a way for Ukraine to show that they're willing to partner with the administration," said Reaney, who is currently based in Saskatoon after studying in the city.
He called what happened in the Oval Office Friday unprecedented.
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