Johnson: US 'not abandoning Ukraine,' but Zelensky's priorities 'in the wrong place'
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said that the U.S. is not "abandoning Ukraine" but that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's priorities are not in the right place following a heated exchange between the Ukrainian leader and President Trump.
When NBC's "Meet The Press" host Kristen Welker asked if Trump is aligning the U.S. with Russia, Johnson said that the president "is trying to get these two parties to a point of peace."
"You have two parties who, to this point, have not shown any interest, apparently, in getting to peace," he said. "What President Zelensky did in the White House was effectively signal to us that he's not ready for that yet, and I think that's a grave disappointment."
"You've got to bring an end to this war," he continued. "And for Zelensky to come in and make demands that he wasn't even making a year ago, I think, shows that his priorities are in the wrong place, and I certainly hope that he will come back to his senses."
When pressed further by Welker about whether the U.S. will take steps to remove themselves from Ukraine, bringing up the Trump administration's refusal to blame Russia for starting the war in Ukraine, Johnson responded that the U.S. has no plans to do so.
"No, they're not abandoning Ukraine," he said.
Johnson also criticized Zelenksy for his demeanor during the Trump meeting.
"It is not the President and the Vice President that berated Zelensky," he said. "I saw it the other way around. I saw Zelensky rather stiff-necked in the Oval Office. Instead of being gracious and saying thank you and looking for a way out of this mess, he did quite the opposite of that."
Johnson's comments come after a contentious meeting between Zelensky and Trump on Friday left negotiations for an end to the war in Ukraine in limbo.
-
U.S. ‘not abandoning Ukraine’ despite Trump-Zelenskyy clash, Speaker Johnson says
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) tells Meet the Press that the United States remains committed to its allies despite President Trump’s heated Oval Office exchange with Ukrainian President ...NBC News - 19h -
Martin Rowson on Britain desperately clinging to the US while Trump abandons Ukraine – cartoon
Continue reading...The Guardian - Feb. 21 -
Zelensky wants US to 'stand more firmly' on Ukraine's side
US support is crucial, Zelensky says hours after the bust-up with Trump at the White House.BBC News - 1d -
Ukraine still 'ready' to sign US minerals deal, Zelensky tells BBC
Ukraine's president tells reporters that despite a fractious White House meeting, he is prepared for the deal to go ahead.BBC News - 9h -
El Salvador’s prisons are no place for US deportees
New U.S. policies risk perpetuating a cycle of violence and abuse that has for decades undermined the rights of Salvadorans and prompted migration to the United States.The Hill - 5d -
US naval base in Italy placed on lockdown
A U.S. naval base in Italy was placed on lockdown on Wednesday due to an "ongoing situation" at an entry control point, officials said.ABC News - 4d -
Kennedy Jr backtracks and says US measles outbreak is now a ‘top priority’ for health department
Health secretary earlier said outbreak was ‘not unusual’ but with first US measles death in decade steps up response. Two days after initially downplaying the outbreak as “not unusual,” the US ...The Guardian - 1d -
Is Zelensky’s Approach to Trump Hurting Ukraine?
Through three years of wartime leadership, Ukraine’s president has mostly played weak hands wisely. But his approach has fallen flat with the Trump administration.The New York Times - 6d -
Trump is correct on Ukraine and right to put Zelensky on the spot
I have no problem with anyone being vehemently opposed to Vladimir Putin and Russia. But such opposition should not blind them to the obvious questions that must still be asked about what is best ...The Hill - Feb. 22
More from The Hill
-
Hochul seeks to recruit laid off federal workers with ad in Washington's Union Station
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul’s (D) office is running a digital ad in Washington, D.C.’s Union Station to recruit laid-off federal employees to work for New York State amid the Trump administration’s ...The Hill - 4h -
UK prime minister dismisses calls to cancel Trump visit after Zelensky meeting
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer dismissed calls to cancel President Trump’s invitation for a state visit to the United Kingdom, following the explosive Oval Office meeting with Ukrainian ...The Hill - 5h -
Conan O'Brien swipes at Trump with 'Anora' joke at Oscars: Americans 'excited to see somebody finally stand up to a powerful Russian'
Conan O'Brien is seemingly taking a knock at President Trump at the Oscars, saying audiences are happy to see fictional film characters stand up to "a powerful Russian." "You know 'Anora' is having ...The Hill - 5h -
'No Other Land' Oscar winners call for a different path on Israeli-Palestinian conflict
The filmmakers behind ‘No Other Land,’ which won the Oscar for best documentary, called for a different path forward to resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, in their acceptance speech ...The Hill - 5h -
Why Morgan Freeman wore a glove at the 2025 Oscars
Morgan Freeman has been known to wear a single glove at times.The Hill - 6h
More in Politics
-
Hochul seeks to recruit laid off federal workers with ad in Washington's Union Station
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul’s (D) office is running a digital ad in Washington, D.C.’s Union Station to recruit laid-off federal employees to work for New York State amid the Trump administration’s ...The Hill - 4h -
UK prime minister dismisses calls to cancel Trump visit after Zelensky meeting
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer dismissed calls to cancel President Trump’s invitation for a state visit to the United Kingdom, following the explosive Oval Office meeting with Ukrainian ...The Hill - 5h -
Conan O'Brien swipes at Trump with 'Anora' joke at Oscars: Americans 'excited to see somebody finally stand up to a powerful Russian'
Conan O'Brien is seemingly taking a knock at President Trump at the Oscars, saying audiences are happy to see fictional film characters stand up to "a powerful Russian." "You know 'Anora' is having ...The Hill - 5h -
'No Other Land' Oscar winners call for a different path on Israeli-Palestinian conflict
The filmmakers behind ‘No Other Land,’ which won the Oscar for best documentary, called for a different path forward to resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, in their acceptance speech ...The Hill - 5h -
Why Morgan Freeman wore a glove at the 2025 Oscars
Morgan Freeman has been known to wear a single glove at times.The Hill - 6h