Rep. McCollum Statement on President Trump and Vice President Vance's Disgraceful Conduct Toward President Zelenskyy

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Betty McCollum (MN-04), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, released the following statement on Friday after President Trump and Vice President Vance publicly denigrated Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office:

“Here are the facts: Ukraine is a sovereign, democratic nation that was illegally invaded by Russia at the direction of President Putin. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is a crime against humanity, and President Putin has murdered tens of thousands of Ukrainian civilians and kidnapped their children during this horrific war.

“For three years, President Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian people have stood up to save their country in the face of Russia’s invasion. Today, President Zelenskyy met with President Trump in the Oval Office to discuss a mineral rights deal with the United States as well as continued U.S. support for Ukraine. What we witnessed instead was shocking: A total lack of diplomacy from President Trump.

“President Zelenskyy sat quietly while enduring President Trump’s complete misrepresentation of the history of the conflict. President Zelenskyy at one point was interrupted by Vice President Vance, who repeated a bald-faced lie that President Zelenskyy has not been publicly thankful to the United States for our country’s support. I have personally met with President Zelenskyy several times over the past three years, and I have witnessed first-hand his sincere gratitude to the people of the United States, both privately and publicly. 

“President Trump and Vice President Vance’s conduct in this Oval Office meeting was a disgrace and a missed opportunity to work together to end the unjustified invasion of Ukraine. President Trump now appears to have cancelled what could have been a fruitful negotiation to move toward peace. I know that President Zelenskyy wants nothing more than peace and security for his people—but it must be a peace that respects Ukrainian sovereignty and guarantees that Russia will never again murder innocent Ukrainians in a landgrab at the behest of a brutal dictator.”