Both Bert Sundström, who monitors Ukraine, and SVT’s USA correspondent Fouad Youcefi, who was outside the White House, say that they had never experienced anything like what happened during Friday.
Bert Sundström notes that the discussion in the White House started reasonably normal – whereupon Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance “completely exploded”.
The meeting was supposed to end with a signed mineral agreement, which would give the United States access to natural resources in Ukraine in exchange for some form of security guarantee, but it does not appear to be close right now.
– How these two people should be able to restore confidence in each other after this is very difficult to see, says Bert Sundström.
“Maybe become an agreement between Trump and Putin”
At the same time, Donald Trump has taken on the role of peace broker. After previous promises to stop the war, the United States has organized meetings with Russia to start a peace process.
During the brawl, Trump mentioned that Vladimir Putin has received undeserved criticism.
– It may be an agreement, but an agreement between Putin and Trump that will punish Ukraine, says Bert Sundström.
Fouad Youcefi, who witnessed the drama outside the White House, summarizes it as a piece of “undiplomatic history in front of open ride”.
– Many in the West call it unworthy, while at the same time in the White House it calls it a strength demonstration, he says.
Trump’s last words raise questions
Trump ended the brawl in the oval room by saying that it at least “becomes good TV”. Something that raised questions about Trump and Vance’s actions among journalists was a game for the gallery.
– Was it a strategic goal that the White House wanted to achieve by attacking Zelenkyj, a tactic that you benefit from negotiations? says Fouad Youcefi and continues:
– We don’t know. But what we know is that this was historic.