MOSCOW: Russia said on Saturday that its goals in Ukraine remained unchanged after President Volodymyr Zelensky’s contentious visit to Washington, accusing the Ukrainian leader of being “obsessed” with prolonging the conflict.
During talks at the Oval Office, Zelensky faced a public rebuke from US President Donald Trump.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Saturday that Zelensky’s trip had been a “complete political and diplomatic failure,” claiming he had confirmed himself as “the most dangerous threat to the world community as an irresponsible warmonger.”
“The visit of the head of the neo-Nazi regime, V. Zelensky, to Washington on February 28 is a complete political and diplomatic failure of the Kyiv regime,” Zakharova said in a statement, repeating Moscow’s long-standing allegations against Ukraine.
Zakharova reiterated Moscow’s stance that its military objectives in Ukraine remained unchanged. “Russia’s unchanging goals remain the demilitarisation and denazification of Ukraine, as well as the recognition of the existing realities on the ground,” she said.
Trump-Zelensky shouting match
Zelensky’s visit to the White House ended in controversy, with Trump and Vice President JD Vance admonishing the Ukrainian leader in front of US and international media.
The meeting, which was expected to conclude with the signing of a minerals deal between Kyiv and Washington, instead descended into a heated exchange.
“You don’t have the cards right now,” Trump told Zelensky. “You’re either going to make a deal or we’re out, and if we’re out, you’ll fight it out and I don’t think it’s going to be pretty.”
Zelensky left the meeting shortly after, with Trump later posting on social media that “he can come back when he is ready for peace.” US media reported that senior Trump administration officials had instructed Zelensky to leave.
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In an interview with Fox News, Zelensky defended his stance, saying, “I’m not sure that we did something bad.” However, he expressed regret that the confrontation had occurred in front of journalists.
European allies rally behind Zelensky
The fallout from the meeting has raised concerns among Kyiv’s European allies, who fear a shift in US policy could leave Ukraine increasingly isolated.
“You are not alone,” Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk wrote on social media in response to the developments.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who recently visited the White House, said he had spoken with both Trump and Zelensky and pledged “unwavering support” for Ukraine.
Starmer is set to meet Zelensky in London on Saturday before a European summit on Sunday, where leaders from over a dozen countries will discuss strategies to bolster support for Kyiv.
The summit, hosted by the UK, will focus on “securing a just and enduring peace” in Ukraine, according to Downing Street.
Discussions are also expected to cover European defence cooperation, amid growing concerns over whether the US will continue to back NATO.
ALSO READ: Trump-Zelensky Shouting Match Takes World Leaders Aback as Europe Backs Ukraine
French President Emmanuel Macron has suggested that Europe may need to develop its own nuclear deterrent, following a request from Germany’s next chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who has emphasised the need for the continent to “achieve independence” from the US on defence matters.
Russia lauds Trump’s stance
Russia has welcomed the apparent shift in Washington’s tone, with former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev mocking Zelensky’s treatment in the White House.
Medvedev described the Ukrainian leader as an “insolent pig” who had received “a proper slap down.”
Zakharova, meanwhile, insisted that Moscow’s military campaign would continue until its objectives were met. “Russia’s military goals in Ukraine are unchanging,” she said, reinforcing the Kremlin’s position.
Moscow has been making slow but steady gains on the battlefield over the past year, taking advantage of Ukraine’s dwindling ammunition supplies and delays in Western military aid.
Trump’s apparent willingness to negotiate with Russian President Vladimir Putin has rattled the transatlantic alliance. The US president has confirmed that he has spoken to Putin “on numerous occasions,” reportedly more than previously disclosed.
When asked whether his relationship with Trump could be salvaged, Zelensky told Fox News, “Of course.” However, he also remarked that he wished Trump was “really more on our side.”
