Trump Sells Out Ukraine in Unhinged White House Meltdown

Joe Raedle / Joe Raedle/Getty Images Donald Trump has lashed out at Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, suggesting he was responsible for his country’s bloodshed while defending the administration’s decision to ease sanctions on Russia.

In an eyebrow-raising tirade at the White House on Monday, the U.S. president also suggested replacing Zelensky as Ukraine’s peace negotiator and claimed the European leader could have secured a better deal long ago—if only he’d listened to Trump.

The 80-year-old also lamented that the U.S. had given Ukraine a lot while receiving “nothing” in return, and said he was open to meeting Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping without Zelensky present.

“Zelensky doesn’t know what he’s talking about,” Trump said when asked about Zelensky’s recent concerns that he was on “the wrong side of history” by cozying up to Putin.

“He should have had this war settled a long time ago.

If he would have listened to me, he would have made a much better deal a long time ago, and he’d have a million people living from his side.

“And to be honest, I think it’s time for somebody else to negotiate on behalf of Ukraine (for an end to the war) because what’s happened? … A tremendous number of people are dead.

They’re losing their male population.

Ukraine could have had this thing settled a long time ago if he would have listened to me.” The extraordinary broadside came after Zelensky warned that an agreement with Russia was “victory” for Putin and had left the Russian leader “laughing”.

Speaking on Piers Morgan Uncensored, the Ukrainian president also acknowledged feeling “betrayed” following the U.S. president’s decision to relax sanctions on Russian diesel—a move that provides economic relief to Moscow’s war machine.

“This is not the right side of history,” Zelensky said, directly cautioning Trump.

Trump’s tirade on Monday while easing economic pressure on Russia places him at odds with a significant bloc of his own party, which has backed tougher measures against Russia.

The contrast is particularly stark following the death of Senator Lindsey Graham, Trump’s Republican ally and former golfing pal, who spent months pushing legislation to punish Russia and countries buying its oil.

The measure bearing Graham’s name finally passed the Senate 86-11 in August, demonstrating overwhelming bipartisan support for a harder line against Moscow.