What it means to be Ukrainian: The Oval Office

Saturday, March 1, 2025

The Oval Office

Yesterday was supposed to be a historic day. Ukraine and the United States were to agree a deal to exchange support for Ukraine's defence against Russian invasion for rare earth minerals that the US needs. Instead, Trump and JD Vance attacked President Zelenskyy for not agreeing to a peace deal. Zelenskyy made the point that Ukraine needs peacekeeping support because Putin has reneged on agreements before. They in turn attacked him for making his case in the presence of media. It was a shocking and unprecedented spectacle in the White House. It was a bullying session, and Trump thought it would make for great television. How stupid. All he cares about is ratings not peace.

So, who was in the room? Secretary of State Marco Rubio was in the back bench along with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. The Ukrainian Ambassador to the US Oksana Makarova and the Ukrainian delegation were present. The press included some mainstream media as well as right-wing reporters and reportedly a delegation from Tass, the Russian state media agency.

A right-wing reporter asked Zelenskyy why he didn't wear a suit to the White House. Zelenskyy gave a flippant answer which was the first misstep. Of course, no one asked other foreign nationals why they didn't wear a suit to the White House and didn't consider it disrespectful when Churchill wore fatigues during WWII. And no one questioned Elon Musk when he wore a T-shirt and a MAGA hat to a press conference in the Oval Office. It was disrespectful to President Zelenskyy and intended to insult him.

What a horrible experience. My hope is that all of Europe will now rally around Ukraine in solidarity against oppression on any front.