Top Republicans close to U.S. President Donald Trump urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday to change his stance on the war or step aside, following a heated White House meeting last week.
Republican Pressure on Zelenskyy
The Oval Office confrontation between Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Zelenskyy saw the Ukrainian leader cut short his visit without signing a planned minerals deal.
Republican leaders, including National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and House Speaker Mike Johnson, signaled growing frustration with Zelenskyy’s resistance to negotiations.
“We need a leader that can deal with us, deal with the Russians, and end this war,” Waltz told CNN.
Europe Rallies Behind Ukraine
Meanwhile, European leaders gathered in London to reaffirm support for Kyiv. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and others urged stronger defense commitments while dismissing calls for Zelenskyy to step down.
U.S. Democrats also condemned the White House stance, with Senator Chris Murphy accusing Trump of aligning too closely with Moscow.
“The White House has become an arm of the Kremlin,” Murphy said.
Talks or Stalemate?
While Republicans push for negotiations, Democrats warn that pressuring Ukraine into territorial concessions would embolden Russia.
“No one here is claiming Putin deserves the Nobel Peace Prize,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said, while stressing that diplomacy is necessary.
As divisions deepen in Washington, Ukraine’s next move could define the future of U.S. support for its war effort.
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