Putin camp rejoices after Trump-Zelenskyy war of words at White House

Russian state media and allies of President Vladimir Putin have seized upon the recent contentious exchange between US President Donald Trump, vice-president J.D. Vance, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House, portraying it as a diplomatic victory for Russia, the Times reported.

The meeting, intended to discuss a minerals deal and potential ceasefire in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, devolved into a heated confrontation. President Trump accused Zelenskyy of "gambling with World War Three", expressing frustration over Ukraine's stance in the conflict. Like all others who reacted to the spat, Trump conveniently glossed over the fact that it was Russia that started the war in 2022.

Following Trump's statements, Russian officials and media outlets highlighted the discord, suggesting it signified a weakening of US-Ukraine relations. Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and senator Andrey Klishas were among those who revelled in the apparent rift, interpreting it as a sign of Ukraine's diminishing support from its Western allies.

Medvedev wrote on Telegram that Donald Trump had given Ukraine a "strong slap on the wrist".

This development comes amid Trump's calls for an immediate ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, urging both nations to negotiate and end the ongoing conflict.

During Friday's meeting, Trump accused Zelenskyy of being "disrespectful" and warned him, "You have no right to dictate what we should feel. You are gambling with World War III."

"I have empowered you to be a tough guy. You either make a deal, or we're out. You don't have the cards," Trump said.

The interaction sparked fury from American observers but was celebrated almost immediately by Russian state media outlets and supporters of Putin.

"For the first time, Trump told the cocaine clown the truth to his face: the Kyiv regime is playing with the third World War. And the ungrateful pig received a strong slap on the wrist from the owners of the pigsty. This is useful. But it's not enough – we must stop military aid to the Nazi machine," Medvedev said in a strongly worded post. He added that Donald Trump is right about the Kyiv regime "gambling with WWIII".

The state-controlled media outlet RT characterised the Trump-Zelenskyy meeting as a dressing down, posting on X: "Zelenskyy sits with hands between legs as US President and VP hammer him."

Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said it was a miracle that Trump and vice-president Vance managed to restrain themselves from hitting Zelenskyy. "I think Zelenskyy's biggest lie of all his lies was his assertion in the White House that the Kyiv regime in 2022 was alone, without support," she wrote on Telegram.

Meanwhile, Kirill Dmitriev, head of the Russian direct investment fund, called the heated confrontation in the Oval Office "historic" on X. Dmitriev was one of Moscow's negotiators in the Russian-American talks held on 18 February in Saudi Arabia.

While European leaders rallied behind Zelenskyy in an outpouring of support, Hungary's Russia-friendly Prime Minister Viktor Orban, on the other hand, praised and thanked Trump, saying Trump stood "bravely for peace. Even if it was difficult for many to digest. Strong men make peace, weak men make war," Orban wrote on X.

Zelenskyy is interested in provocations leading to mass deaths of civilians following his clash with Trump in Washington, head of Russia's Agency for International Humanitarian Cooperation Yevgeny Primakov said.

"Everyone saw everything. I would just draw attention to what is in the nature of the Kiev regime: provocations, bloody provocations. Right now Zelenskyy and his associates are interested in provocations leading to mass deaths of peaceful civilians, maybe like never before," he wrote on Telegram.

According to Primakov, Kyiv has few ways to save face. "To spill a lot of innocent blood at once and then blame it on Russia is one of the easiest ones," he said. The official also did not rule out staged mishaps. "They really need it now. And so do the Brits," he said.

Russia is trying to develop dialogue with everyone, including the US, from a position of respect and mutual benefit, presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov told media before the Trump-Zelenskyy meeting at the White House.

"We want to build dialogue not only with the US, but with all countries from a position of mutual respect and mutual benefit," Peskov said, when asked how dialogue with Trump should be led, given that he is reproached for trying to talk to everyone, not only with Putin, from a position of strength.

The Kremlin spokesman did not agree that it makes sense to build cooperation only from the perspective of truth, which is different for everyone.

Earlier on Friday, Zelenskyy met with Trump at the White House. Their televised exchange, with reporters in attendance, suddenly unravelled into a shouting match, with Trump scolding Zelenskyy for being disrespectful to the US, and Vance saying Zelenskyy didn't ever say a "thank you" for all the support provided to Kyiv.

A news conference scheduled to follow the meeting was cancelled, and Trump posted a statement to Truth Social, telling off Zelenskyy for being disrespectful and not ready for peace.

With IANS inputs