Russia-Ukraine peace negotiations came to a screeching halt Friday after an Oval Office meeting between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy erupted in anger. (Reuters/Brian Snyder )
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., a one-time staunch supporter of Ukraine, said after the meeting that the war-torn nation may need to seek a new leader who can work with Trump.
"The question for me, for the Ukrainian people … I don't know if Zelensky can ever get you where you want to go with the United States. Either he dramatically changes or you gotta get someone new," said Graham.
Another former State Department official said Europe needs to have an "emergency meeting" to figure out how to move forward.
"I think we're gonna have to see an emergency meeting of the Europeans with the United States, and I think there's gonna have to be a little bit of a cooling down right now between Zelenskyy and the U.S.," said Joel Rubin, a deputy assistant secretary of state during the Obama administration.
TRUMP SAYS ZELENSKYY CAN 'COME BACK WHEN HE IS READY FOR PEACE' AFTER FIERY WHITE HOUSE EXCHANGE
"That Oval meeting was either the bane of Zelenskyy’s political career or the bane of Ukraine," said former Rep. Mike Garcia, a Republican who served as an informal liaison between Speaker Mike Johnson and rank-and-file House members on Ukraine. "One of those two will cease to exist in the next few months."
He added that Friday’s spat was a natural result of Zelenskyy operating under a "blank check mentality."
"The pill that Zelenskyy seems to not have swallowed yet is that he's not going to get everything that he wants," Garcia told Fox News Digital. "He was humiliated on the global stage in a time when his people needed him to be a little more gracious and grateful for this stuff that he's gotten.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., speaks outside the White House after the Oval Office meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington, D.C., Feb. 28, 2025. (Reuters/Nathan Howard)
Vance accused Zelenskyy of trying to litigate their issues in front of the U.S. media.
"Offer some words of appreciation for the United States of America and the president who's trying to save your country, please," Vance told Zelenskyy.
"Have you ever been to Ukraine? Have you seen the problems we have? Come once," the Ukrainian president replied.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Trump announced after the meeting that Zelenskyy may return to the Oval Office "when he is ready for peace."
"We had a very meaningful meeting in the White House today. Much was learned that could never be understood without conversation under such fire and pressure," Trump wrote.
"It’s amazing what comes out through emotion, and I have determined that President Zelenskyy is not ready for Peace if America is involved, because he feels our involvement gives him a big advantage in negotiations. I don’t want advantage, I want PEACE. He disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office. He can come back when he is ready for Peace."
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/russia-ukraine-zelenskyy-trump-peace-talks