President Trump’s leadership style can sometimes rub people the wrong way. Usually these people aren’t tough enough to take his blunt critiques.
But this foreign leader just did a complete 180 on Donald Trump with this shocking statement.
Zelenskyy Expresses Gratitude to Trump at NATO Summit
In a significant moment at the NATO summit in The Hague, Netherlands, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy extended his thanks to President Donald Trump following their discussions on Wednesday. This gesture comes months after a tense encounter in the White House, where Vice President JD Vance had pointedly questioned Zelenskyy’s gratitude for U.S. support in Ukraine’s ongoing struggle against Russia.
Zelenskyy took to X after the meeting to express his appreciation. “We covered all the truly important issues. I thank Mr. President, I thank the United States. We discussed how to achieve a ceasefire and a real peace,” he wrote.
“We spoke about how to protect our people. We appreciate the attention and the readiness to help bring peace closer. Details will follow.” The post marked a notable shift from earlier friction, signaling a renewed effort to align on critical issues like ceasefire negotiations.
I had a long and substantive meeting with President Trump @POTUS.
We covered all the truly important issues.
I thank Mr. President, I thank the United States.
We discussed how to achieve a ceasefire and a real peace.
We spoke about how to protect our people.
We appreciate the…— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) June 25, 2025
Recalling the February Clash
The backdrop to this renewed dialogue was a heated February meeting in the Oval Office, where Zelenskyy, Trump, and Vance clashed over the prospect of diplomacy with Russia. The exchange grew sharp when Zelenskyy challenged Vance’s advocacy for negotiations, questioning their feasibility given Russian President Vladimir Putin’s history of breaking agreements. “What kind of diplomacy, JD, you are speaking about?” Zelenskyy asked. “What do you mean?”
Vance responded with equal intensity, saying, “I’m talking about the kind of diplomacy that’s going to end the destruction of your country.”
He went on to criticize Zelenskyy’s approach, adding, “Mr. President, with respect, I think it’s disrespectful for you to come into the Oval Office to try to litigate this in front of the American media. Right now, you guys are going around and forcing conscripts to the front lines because you have manpower problems. You should be thanking the president for bringing it, to bring it into this country.”
The meeting ended on a sour note, with Trump halting peace talks and stating Zelenskyy could return when he was “ready” for peace. In response, Zelenskyy posted on X shortly after, thanking the U.S., Trump, Congress, and the American people for their support, likely a move that was made to ease the tension.
Mending Fences and Moving Forward
Despite the rocky history, Zelenskyy and Trump have since engaged in further dialogue, including a phone call and a meeting at St. Peter’s Basilica during Pope Francis’ funeral in April. These interactions suggest both leaders are working to navigate their differences.
At Wednesday’s summit, Trump described the meeting with Zelenskyy as positive, noting, “He’s very nice, actually. A little rough at times. He couldn’t have been nicer. I think he’d like to see an end to this.”
Challenges in Peace Efforts
Trump also acknowledged ongoing difficulties in brokering peace between Ukraine and Russia. Speaking to reporters, he admitted, “Vladimir Putin has been more difficult.”
“Frankly, I had some problems with Zelenskyy. You may have read about him, and it’s been more difficult than other wars.” Despite these challenges, Trump expressed optimism and talked about plans to engage with Putin directly.
As Zelenskyy and Trump continue their diplomatic dance, the NATO summit meeting marks a step toward rebuilding communication. With Zelenskyy’s public gratitude and Trump’s openness to further discussions, both leaders appear committed to finding a path forward, even as the complexities of the conflict persist.
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