Thread by @Mylovanov

Waltz tells what happened after the fight in the Oval Office - the Ukrainian team was in tears, but Zelensky stayed argumentative

Q: After the press left, you and Rubio told Zelensky he should leave the White House?

Waltz: We had a meeting, and advised the president that after that insult in the Oval Office he shouldn't engage further. We told Zelensky and his team.

To be clear, this was not an ambush - that claim is categorically false.

1/

Waltz: We had a beautiful setting in the East Room ready for both leaders to sign that would have bound the US and Ukraine together economically for a generation.

It involved critical minerals, investment, and commitments from the UK and France to put boots on the ground.

This could have been a step toward ending the war and stopping the destruction. 2/

Waltz: The President [Trump] was frustrated and angry because it’s unclear if Zelensky truly wants to stop the fighting. The President and VP said enough is enough.

This [lecturing] was the wrong approach, wrong time, and the wrong president to try to do this kind of a thing. This is not Joe Biden. The entire world saw that, crystal clear.

3/

Q: How did Zelensky react after press left? Was he surprised?

Waltz: No. His team was. His ambassador, and adviser were practically in tears, wanting this to move forward. But Zelensky was still argumentative.

I said “Mr. President, time is not on your side here, on the battlefield, and in terms of the world situation. And most importantly, USAID, and the taxpayers' tolerance, is not unlimited”.

4/

Waltz: I think Zelensky is used to hearing that “as long as it takes” and blank check from Biden.

He has not gotten the memo that this is a new sheriff in town.

This is a new president, and we are determined to take a new approach towards peace. 5/

Waltz: Zelensky did his country a true disservice. If you disagree with how we're gonna end the war - fine.

But you do that behind closed doors, not the way this was done. It was wholly unacceptable. 6X