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US Vice-President JD Vance, with back to camera, harangues Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during the heated exchange
EUROPEAN Nato members said they would stand by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky last night after his public humiliation in the Oval Office.
US President Donald Trump and Vice-President JD Vance berated the Ukrainian leader in front of the world’s cameras, accusing him of ingratitude for US support in the earlier stages of the war with Russia and of opposing a ceasefire.
In scenes that shocked observers worldwide, the pair talked over Mr Zelensky and told him off when he attempted to challenge their narrative about the war, while highlighting aspects of the situation on the ground long obscured by Western governments — that Ukraine has severe manpower problems and has to press-gang reluctant conscripts to serve on the front line, and that it has been steadily losing to Russia.
US tariffs have had Von der Leyen bowing in submission, while comments from the former European Central Bank leader call for more European political integration and less individual state sovereignty. All this adds up to more pain and austerity ahead, argues NICK WRIGHT
