CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – Reaction from the Ukrainian Community in Northeast Ohio as tensions spill over in the Oval Office between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
George Jaskiw, the President of the United Ukrainian Organization of Ohio told 19 News, “I think President Trump has a firm belief as a negotiator that he can secure Russian President Putin’s word, and it will be adhered to. I think President Zelensky based on the history of this country in the last couple decades has a different perspective which is understood.”
At one point with news reporters present President Zelensky asked Vice-President J.D. Vance, “What kind of diplomacy J.D. you are speaking about, what do you mean?”
Vice-President Vance responded by saying, “Mr. President (Zelensky), Mr. President, with all due respect I think it is disrespectful for you to come to the Oval Office and try to litigate this in front of the American media.”
President Trump ended Friday’s talks by saying, “You’re gambling with World War III.”
The meeting that was supposed to focus on peace and ending Russia’s three-year war on Ukraine had tempers flaring and reaching a boiling point because the two sides have very different opinions when it comes to trusting the word of Russian President Vladimir Putin. In fact, some say there is a history of mistrust when it comes to the Russian Federation.
According to Jaskiw of Parma, Russia signed a memorandum in 1994 to protect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine. But Russia violated the deal in 2014 when they invaded Crimea and seized it along with part of Eastern Ukraine.
“So, President Zelensky has reason to be concerned that Vladimir Putin’s word or signature is not a secure guarantee for lasting peace,” Jaskiw told 19 News.
The Ukrainian Community in and around Parma hopes the war of words will end and negotiations will resume when cooler heads prevail because Ukraine has, even more, to lose in all of this.
“If Ukraine stops fighting it stops existing. Putin’s aim is to exterminate Ukraine and Ukrainians. For Russia, they end the war and they just go home,” Jaskiw said.
Now President Trump warns Zelensky to make peace or lose American support, and Jaskiw says, “Without the help of the United States, Ukraine will have to fight hard and lose more people.”
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This article was originally published by a www.cleveland19.com . Read the Original article here. .