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Khabor Wala Desk
Published: 1st March 2025, 4:30 AM
WASHINGTON, 1 March 2025 (BSS/AFP) – US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has called on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to apologise following a heated exchange with President Donald Trump during their recent Oval Office meeting.
Speaking in an interview with CNN on Friday, Rubio criticised Zelensky for what he described as an unproductive discussion, stating that the Ukrainian leader should “apologise for wasting our time for a meeting that was going to end the way it did.” The talks, which were expected to focus on US support for Ukraine amid its ongoing war with Russia, reportedly escalated into an argument with raised voices.
The top US diplomat also questioned Zelensky’s commitment to securing a peace agreement, despite Ukraine enduring more than three years of conflict following Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.
“You start to perceive that maybe Zelensky doesn’t want a peace deal. He says he does, but maybe he doesn’t, and that active, open, undermining of efforts to bring about peace is deeply frustrating for everyone who’s been involved,” Rubio stated.
The tensions between Ukraine and the United States come at a critical time, as Kyiv continues to rely on Western military and financial support to sustain its defence against Russian aggression. The Trump administration has taken a more sceptical stance on long-term US assistance to Ukraine, with calls for increased scrutiny over aid distribution and negotiations for a potential peace deal.
Zelensky, who has consistently called for stronger Western backing, has also faced internal pressures within Ukraine, balancing military strategy with diplomatic efforts. The recent diplomatic row with Washington could signal shifting US-Ukraine relations and impact future negotiations on conflict resolution and security commitments.
As the situation unfolds, analysts are closely watching how this clash might influence broader Western support for Ukraine and its war effort.
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