WNAM MONITORING: US National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard said Sunday that President Donald Trump is “committed to peace” but Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy “has different aims in mind.”
Speaking to Fox News, Gabbard evaluated the meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy on Feb. 28 at the Oval Office.
“President Trump is committed to peace and to freedom,” she told host Shannon Bream.
“We’re seeing this big divergence here between his position, his commitment to these values and the interests of the American people and the interests of President Zelenskyy and these European leaders,” she added.
Gabbard said Zelenskyy’s aims differed from those of Trump’s, noting that the Ukrainian leader “wants to end this war, but he will only accept an end apparently that leads to what he views as Ukraine’s victory, even if it comes at an incredibly high cost of potentially World War III or even a nuclear war.”
Labeling Zelenskyy’s stance as a direct challenge to Trump and US Vice President JD Vance, she said “he really showed his lack of interest in any real, good faith negotiations” and “this has created a huge rift in the relationship.”
Gabbard also noted that there was a “whole laundry list of issues that are against the values of democracy and freedom” in Ukraine while recalling Vance’s remarks at the the Munich Security Conference in February.
“So it really begs the question as Vice President Vance said again in Munich, it’s clear that they’re standing against (Russian President Vladimir) Putin. Obviously, that’s clear. But what are they actually really fighting for? And are they aligned with the values that they claim to hold in agreement with us?” she said.
A heated exchange took place Friday between Zelenskyy, Trump and Vance at the White House.
Trump criticized the Ukrainian leader’s attitude during the exchange, while Zelenskyy expressed his expectation of support for his country.
