The Daily Populous Monday March 3rd, 2025 evening edition
Authored by thetimes.com and submitted by TimesandSundayTimes

President Zelensky has said that his stormy conversation with President Trump should have been carried out behind closed doors but that their relationship would eventually recover.

Zelensky also refused to say if he thought the row in the Oval Office had been deliberately orchestrated by the White House. “I would not like to talk about what happened,” he said. “I just want to emphasise why.”

Before he left Britain after meeting the King at Sandringham, he added: “It’s not right when such conversations are completely open. Unfriendly [people] can take advantage of this.” He did not clarify to whom he was referring.

Choosing his words carefully, Zelensky insisted that Ukraine’s turbulent relations with the Trump administration were temporary. “This will pass,” he said.

Dietmeister on March 3rd, 2025 at 16:38 UTC »

I respect Zelensky, but this is not the way to go about it.

Ukraine is not equal to the US, it just isn't. Russia isn't either. Only China is.

Zelensky deserves respect, but he has to take reality into account as well. Its important not to overplay your hand.

nosecohn on March 3rd, 2025 at 08:12 UTC »

Honestly, this is a mistake on Zelensky's part. Even if he believes it, it should not be said aloud, in the press, or to Donald Trump, who doesn't view Ukraine as an equal partner and gets annoyed when Zelensky acts like it is.

The way to approach a transactional narcissist like Trump is with deference, gratitude and flattery. He thrives on that. Other leaders have learned how to deal with him. Zelensky needs to learn that too or send someone else to negotiate.

To paraphrase one of my favorite commentators talking about the recent Oval Office conflict:

> Zelenskyy was clearly not briefed that he's not really visiting a Western president, but more like an Imperial House of the 19th century, and he must accordingly. Zelenskyy expected to meet somebody at his level and didn't understand that, in this situation, he was viewed a beggar in the Imperial court. Instead of thanking and complimenting the Emperor from beginning to end, he dared to contradict him in public.

goodness_amom on March 3rd, 2025 at 05:36 UTC »

Chess pieces and chess players are not equal