UK foreign secretary feels guilty over Trump-Zelenskyy row at White House
Photo: UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy (Vitalii Nosach/RBC-Ukraine)
UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy called himself responsible for the emotional dispute between Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Donald Trump in February, which sparked an international scandal, according to the diplomat’s interview with The Guardian.
Lammy recalled Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s meeting in the Oval Office on February 28, when Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance reportedly mocked the Ukrainian leader "in the manner of two cats batting a mouse."
"If I’m being honest, I felt, arrghhh!" Lammy says. "Why hadn’t I done more to support our Ukrainian colleagues in preparation for their meeting?"
The minister immediately answered his own question, noting that "the Ukrainians were invited last-minute, the British were focused on their own Trump meeting, there wasn’t time, so 'I was being a bit hard on myself. But I still felt guilty.'"
Oval Office incident
On February 28, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy paid an official visit to the United States.
During a press conference in the Oval Office, a heated and emotional exchange took place between Zelenskyy, President Donald Trump, and Vice President J.D. Vance.
Following the tense discussion, Zelenskyy left the White House earlier than scheduled.
The US subsequently suspended military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine.
Cooperation was restored after a follow-up meeting between the Ukrainian and US delegations in Saudi Arabia.
