Canada Will Continue To Stand With Ukraine: Trudeau Backs Zelenskyy After Oval Office Blow-Up

Ottawa: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has voiced his support for Ukrainian President Vlodymyr Zelenskyy after the latter's verbal spat with US President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance at the Oval Office in the White House. 

Trudeau's support for Zelenskyy comes amid Canada's ongoing tariff war with the US, who is going to impose tariffs on Canada from March 4.

Also Read: Make A Deal or US Is Out: Trump-Zelenskyy-Vance In Full Blown Public Spat, White House Shares Full Video

‘Canada Will Continue to Stand with Ukraine’: Trudeau Backs Zelenskyy

Canadian PM Justin Trudeau has shared a post on ‘X’ (formerly known as Twitter), lauding Ukraine for the courage and resilience they have shown during the war with Russia and how their fight matters to Canada. Trudeau's post reads, “Russia illegally and unjustifiably invaded Ukraine. For three years now, Ukrainians have fought with courage and resilience. Their fight for democracy, freedom, and sovereignty is a fight that matters to us all. Canada will continue to stand with Ukraine and Ukrainians in achieving a just and lasting peace.”

Zelenskyy's Verbal Spat with Trump and Vance at the Oval Office

In the final 10 minutes of the nearly 45-minute discussion, tensions escalated during a heated exchange involving US President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy . Zelenskyy expressed doubts regarding Russia's dedication to diplomatic efforts, referencing the country's history of failing to uphold its commitments on the international arena.

Also Read: Zelenskyy Seen Storming Out of White House After Trump-Vance Oval Office Showdown

What was supposed to be a peaceful, diplomatic exchange of words at the White House, turned out to be a verbal spat between Trump, Vance and Zelenskyy. Trump berated the Ukrainian President for ‘gambling with World War III’ and the ‘lives of millions of people’. It began with Vance telling Zelenskyy, “Mr. President, with respect. I think it's disrespectful for you to come to the Oval Office to try to litigate this in front of the American media.” Zelenskyy tried to object, prompting Trump to raise his voice and say, “You're gambling with the lives of millions of people.” “You're gambling with World War III, and what you're doing is very disrespectful to the country, this country that's backed you far more than a lot of people say they should have,” Trump said.

Also Read: You Are Gambling With World War 3: Trump Tells Zelenskyy

"You're not in a good position. You don't have the cards right now. With us you start having cards. It's going to be a very hard thing to do business like this,” said Trump and accused the Ukrainian President of being ‘disrespectful’ to the United States. Zelenskyy then unexpectedly departed from the White House without finalizing a vital minerals deal with the US, which Trump had insisted upon as a prerequisite for ongoing support for Ukraine. Outside the Cabinet room, where their planned lunch was to occur, untouched salad plates and other food items were being cleared away.

(Inputs from AP)