«We are going in the right direction»: Sienkevych's reaction to the deterioration of relations between Zelenskyy and Trump

Mykolaiv Mayor Oleksandr Sienkevych said after the White House controversy that it was time for Europe to unite around Ukraine and strengthen its defence without illusions about «Big Brother».

He wrote about this on his Telegram channel.

According to him, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy left the US with dignity and did not betray Ukrainians.

«Did you expect today's meeting to result in an apology for «dictator» and a new package of sanctions and weapons? Once again: Ukraine is not a country that accepts ultimatums. President Zelenskyy left the US with dignity and did not betray us all. Today, in the Oval Office, it was not him who was interrupted and threatened, but us — Ukrainians», said the mayor of Mykolaiv.

He also believes that supporting the US in a new light is not altruism, but part of a bigger game.

«And if the rules change, we must draw conclusions and act accordingly. Be more flexible and hardworking. This meeting is another signal to Europe: it's time to unite around Ukraine and strengthen our defence without any illusions about «Big Brother». And we can already see the reaction of our partners and understand that we are moving in the right direction. And for us, this is a reminder: do not wait for a miracle, but fight for peace ourselves», he added.

Dispute in the Oval Office

As a reminder, the meeting of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday, 28 February, was ended early. The conversation between Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Donald Trump and J.D. Vance in the White House turned into a heated one.

According to CNN sources, after the public part of the conversation between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy ended, the American president and his advisers went into a separate room. It was then that Donald Trumpfinally decided that Volodymyr Zelenskyy «was not in the right place to negotiate», and instructed Marco Rubio and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz to convey the message that the Ukrainian president should leave.

In turn, after the failure to sign the US subsoil deal, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked the United States, President Trump and Congress.

In an interview with Fox News, Volodymyr Zelenskyy also said that such disputes are not good for both sides, but the President of Ukraine cannot «change our Ukrainian attitude towards the Russians» and does not want them to continue killing Ukrainians.

A number of European leaders, as well as American politicians, have expressed support for Ukraine. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk addressed Ukrainians and Zelensky on the social media platform X with the following words: «Dear Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukrainian friends, you are not alone».

French President Emmanuel Macron also said that Russia is the aggressor and Ukraine is a state that has been aggressed. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez also expressed support for Kyiv, writing: «Ukraine, Spain stands with you».

President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen addressed Volodymyr with the following words: «Be strong, be brave, be fearless».