Trump-Zelenskyy Meeting Implodes: Is It Time for Europe to Lead?

Negotiations between Russia and Ukraine hit a major snag after a rather explosive meeting between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office. Apparently, things got heated, leaving everyone wondering what's next.

The big question now is whether Trump and Zelenskyy can patch things up enough for the U.S. to help broker a peace deal. Some are suggesting Europe might need to step in to help end the conflict, while others think Zelenskyy needs to do some serious damage control—or maybe even step aside.

One European official told Fox News Digital, "It is hard to foresee what happens next. 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." Okay, so basically, Europe needs to up its game.

Trump reportedly felt Zelenskyy wasn't "ready" for U.S. involvement in the peace process. Even some Republicans who used to be all about helping Ukraine seem to be losing patience. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., even suggested Ukraine might need a new leader who can actually work with Trump.

Graham stated, "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." Harsh, but that's the reality some people are seeing.

Another former State Department official suggested Europe needs an "emergency meeting" to figure out the next steps. Joel Rubin, a deputy assistant secretary of state during the Obama administration, said, "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."

Former Rep. Mike Garcia, who played liaison between Speaker Mike Johnson and House members on Ukraine, said, "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." Talk about dramatic!

Garcia added that this spat was bound to happen because Zelenskyy was acting like he had a "blank check." He told Fox News Digital, "The pill that Zelenskyy seems to not have swallowed yet is that he's not going to get everything that he wants. 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.’”

Apparently, the White House was surprised by Zelenskyy's "combativeness" after Trump called him a "dictator" and then invited him to the White House. A source close to Vance said, "The president and vice president did not expect Zelenskyy to engage in such disrespectful behavior."

The meeting was cut short, with aides escorting Zelenskyy out before negotiations even started. Trump reportedly told Zelenskyy, "You don't have the cards right now. With us, you start having cards." Vance accused Zelenskyy of trying to hash things out in the U.S. media.

Vance told Zelenskyy, "Offer some words of appreciation for the United States of America and the president who's trying to save your country, please." Zelenskyy shot back, "Have you ever been to Ukraine? Have you seen the problems we have? Come once."

Trump announced that Zelenskyy can come back to the Oval Office "when he is ready for peace." He wrote, "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.

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."