US National Security Adviser (NSA) Mike Waltz has revealed how the Ukrainian delegation led by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reacted on being asked to leave the White House after the heated encounter with US President Donald Trump and Vice-President JD Vance in the Oval Office.
After the 10-minute showdown that saw US President Donald Trump and Vice President J D Vance berate Zelenskyy, Waltz and Secretary of State Marco Rubio were instructed by Trump to inform the Ukrainians that the negotiations were over and it was time to go.
"The dealmaker-in-chief knows when to walk away from a bad deal or a bad, or a bad negotiation," Waltz told Breitbart News on Saturday. The NSA added that it became clear to Trump during the meeting that "the Ukrainian side wasn't interested in ending the war."
"President Trump, it became clear in that meeting, if you remember a moment where he said, ‘You know, I’m glad this is all playing out in front of the press, because what you’re seeing is the other side is not interested in actually ending the war and accepting the reality of his situation and that he doesn’t have very many cards," Waltz said.
He added that on being told to leave, the Ukrainian delegation was "stunned". Waltz said he couldn't get "how the Ukrainians thought they could go forward" with the signing of the mineral deal after the public episode with the world watching.
He recalled the scene where Ukraine’s ambassador to the US face-palmed in the Oval Office as it went down. "She knew the gravity of what had just happened, that American patience had run out, that this President’s patience had run out, that he was personally insulted," Waltz said.
Waltz reiterated that Zelenskyy had insulted President Trump by trying to be argumentative and fact-checking while "practically begging for money and assistance".
"So we made that clear in no uncertain terms. We made it clear that the negotiation, which could have been a fantastic day for them and the country, was over, and now it was time to go," Waltz added.
The NSA said the US team had been working hard on the agreement and Zelenskyy had an opportunity on the heels of other European leaders to take care of Europe and walk away with a deal that would have meant trillions for Ukraine. "It would have meant that the American taxpayer starts … recouping some of these billions that … they’ve donated and sent in grants, and restructure our entire aid," he added. "He could have walked away with a massive win and blew it," he added.