**Trump on His Clash with Zelensky: A Strategy to Pressure Ukraine**
U.S. President Donald Trump said that his public clash with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office was part of a strategy to pressure Ukraine into doing the right thing regarding efforts to end the war.
The incident happened on February 28, when Trump and Zelensky held a tense press briefing in the Oval Office. The meeting ended in a heated argument over U.S. aid to Ukraine and the cancellation of a planned mineral agreement.
**A Week of Tension**
After the meeting, tensions between the two leaders escalated. Trump accused Zelensky of disrespecting the U.S. and said on Truth Social that “he can come back when he is ready for peace.” The dispute led to the suspension of intelligence and military aid to Ukraine by the Trump administration.
However, the situation started to ease by March 4, when Zelensky apologized to Trump, expressing readiness to work with Trump’s leadership for lasting peace and reiterating Ukraine’s commitment to ending the war.
**New Developments**
On March 13, Russian President Vladimir Putin signaled Russia’s willingness to accept a proposed 30-day ceasefire. However, he demanded guarantees that Ukraine wouldn’t mobilize, train troops, or receive military aid during the truce.
U.S. President Trump plans to have a phone call with Putin on March 18. The planned call follows U.S.-led talks in Saudi Arabia, where Washington proposed a 30-day Russia-Ukraine ceasefire.