Miranda Devine: Zelensky was the true instigator of the Oval Office fracas — not an ‘ambush’ from Trump

If anyone came to that meeting in bad faith, it was clearly Zelensky, whose body language and attitude was negative from the start. Trump could not have been more cordial, having steered the complex negotiations with Russia and Ukraine to a first step where he believed peace was a real possibility.

But Zelensky had other ideas. He contradicted, interrupted and insulted Trump, even before Vice President JD Vance said a word. It was 11 minutes in when Zelensky first contradicted Trump with a misleading claim about the minerals deal he was there to sign.

“You have big, nice ocean, between us, but if we will not stay [fighting], Russia will go further to Baltics and to Poland. It’s a fact, and [then] you will fight, your American soldiers. It doesn’t matter, do you have ocean, or not, your soldiers will fight.”

This was a severe provocation and yet Trump kept his cool.

At 31 minutes, Zelensky said: “You have big, nice ocean, between us, but if we will not stay [fighting], Russia will go further to Baltics and to Poland. It’s a fact, and [then] you will fight, your American soldiers. It doesn’t matter, do you have ocean, or not, your soldiers will fight.”

This was a severe provocation and yet Trump kept his cool. It was another seven minutes before Vance piped up.

“We’re trying to solve a problem. Don’t tell us what we’re going to feel, because you’re in no position to dictate that.”

Zelensky ambushed Trump. He just got more than he bargained for.

Now it’s up to Europe at its summit on Thursday to make Ukraine see reason, because the country can’t survive without America.