Trump-Zelenskyy Meeting Blows Up: Is It Time for Europe to Lead or Zelenskyy to Go?

Negotiations between Russia and Ukraine hit a major snag after a fiery meeting between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office. The fallout has everyone wondering where things go from here.

Some are suggesting it's time for Europe to step up and take a more active role in resolving the conflict, while others believe Zelenskyy needs to seriously clean up his act or even consider stepping down. Seriously, how much worse can this get?

"It is hard to foresee what happens next," a European official told Fox News Digital. "The optics of it were simply terrible. … This is another sign for Europe to get its act together and support Ukraine. Mobilize Russia’s foreign assets. Purchase arms for Ukraine. Increase defense spending this year. Move forward with EU membership. There are things Europe can do to help Ukraine build leverage."

Trump reportedly felt Zelenskyy wasn't "ready" for U.S. involvement in the peace process. Even some Republicans, who were once strong supporters of aiding Ukraine, seem to be losing patience with the Ukrainian leader.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who used to be a big advocate for Ukraine, suggested that the war-torn nation might need to find a new leader who can work with Trump.

"The question for me, for the Ukrainian people … I don't know if Zelensky can ever get you where you want to go with the United States. Either he dramatically changes or you gotta get someone new," Graham said.

Another former State Department official suggested Europe needs to hold an "emergency meeting" to figure out the next steps.

"I think we're gonna have to see an emergency meeting of the Europeans with the United States, and I think there's gonna have to be a little bit of a cooling down right now between Zelenskyy and the U.S.," said Joel Rubin, a deputy assistant secretary of state during the Obama administration.

Former Rep. Mike Garcia, who served as an informal liaison between Speaker Mike Johnson and House members on Ukraine, didn't mince words: "That Oval meeting was either the bane of Zelenskyy’s political career or the bane of Ukraine. One of those two will cease to exist in the next few months."

Garcia added that the spat was a result of Zelenskyy operating under a "blank check mentality." Ouch, harsh but maybe true?

"The pill that Zelenskyy seems to not have swallowed yet is that he's not going to get everything that he wants," Garcia told Fox News Digital. "He was humiliated on the global stage in a time when his people needed him to be a little more gracious and grateful for this stuff that he's gotten.

"He needs to come back and say he is very grateful for what he has gotten, say ‘I am alive because of the United States. I'm willing to sit down and negotiate in good faith for a peace agreement that may not yield everything that I want and may not, you know, certainly won't get us to the borders that we had in 2012-2013 before the Crimea invasion.’"

The White House was reportedly surprised by Zelenskyy's "combativeness" after Trump accused him of being a "dictator" last week and then invited him to the White House.

"The president and vice president did not expect Zelenskyy to engage in such disrespectful behavior," a source close to Vance said.

The meeting was cut short, with aides escorting Zelenskyy off the premises before negotiations even began.

"You don't have the cards right now. With us, you start having cards," Trump reportedly told Zelenskyy.

Vance accused Zelenskyy of trying to air their dirty laundry in front of the U.S. media.

"Offer some words of appreciation for the United States of America and the president who's trying to save your country, please," Vance told Zelenskyy.

"Have you ever been to Ukraine? Have you seen the problems we have? Come once," the Ukrainian president replied.

Trump announced after the meeting that Zelenskyy may return to the Oval Office "when he is ready for peace."

"We had a very meaningful meeting in the White House today. Much was learned that could never be understood without conversation under such fire and pressure," Trump wrote.

"It’s amazing what comes out through emotion, and I have determined that President Zelenskyy is not ready for Peace if America is involved, because he feels our involvement gives him a big advantage in negotiations. I don’t want advantage, I want PEACE. He disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office. He can come back when he is ready for Peace."