Windsor Ukrainians slam Trump over Zelenskyy treatment
The criticisms follow a heated White House meeting
Members of the local Ukrainian community spoke out Monday against U.S. President Donald Trump's recent treatment of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a disastrous White House meeting that has jeopardized the future of U.S. foreign aid to the country.
Carol Guimond, acting president of the Windsor-Essex branch of the Canadian Ukrainian Congress, said she's feeling "very frustrated" after Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance accused the Ukrainian president of being ungrateful and "disrespectful" at last week's meeting.
"Every time Trump opens his mouth, there's something incredible coming out of it again that is truly false," Guimond said.
Zelenskyy's trip to Washington was meant to end in a deal granting the U.S. access to Ukraine's rare minerals. Ukraine has relied on billions from the U.S. in foreign aid and arms shipments in its three-year fight to dispel the Russian invasion.
But tensions appeared to rise as Zelenskyy attempted to warn the American leaders about the risks of negotiating with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has repeatedly sought to illegally annex Ukraine.
"You don't have the cards right now," Trump sternly told Zelenskyy. "You're gambling with millions of lives."
Guimond condemned Trump and Vance's treatment of Zelenskyy, who she said had "no one to support him at all."
"You don't invite someone to sign a peace contract and then turn around and berate him in front of the world," Guimond said.
WATCH: Trump berates Zelenskyy during Oval Office meeting
Under Trump, U.S. strategy toward the conflict has shifted to include a diplomatic rapprochement with Russia, with officials from Washington and Moscow — but not Kyiv — meeting in Saudi Arabia last month to discuss ending the war.
Around that time, Trump also made a series of misleading statements about Zelenskyy, labelling him a "dictator" and suggesting falsely that Ukraine started the war — criticisms that echo the Kremlin's own claims.
"Under Democratic presidencies, you never saw this," Guimond said. "Had Biden been in power right now, you would never see this.
"But I think Trump's main objective is, he wants to draw closer to Russia. He admires Putin and he feels by slighting Ukraine that this is one way to get into Putin's graces."
Karyna Nikashyna is Ukrainian and fled the country after Russia's invasion began.
She now works with Windsor Women Working With Immigrant Women, and said while she "really appreciated" Zelenskyy remaining polite with Trump and Vance as they lambasted him, Ukrainians are deeply worried about their future now.
"This is very heartbreaking for all the Ukrainians, I would say, because we show that we are very, very resilient and we want to fight, and we still have hopes," she said.
"We depended a lot on the U.S. help — that's obvious of course. But I think it's going to get worse unfortunately."
In the fallout of the meeting, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and European leaders came to Zelenskyy's defence, and met in London on Monday to work on a potential path to peace.
WATCH: U.S. calls for coalition to support Ukraine's defence
Trump, meanwhile, has continued his criticisms of Zelenskyy and argued that he's been tougher on Russia than past presidents, citing U.S. sanctions and arms shipments to Ukraine.
For his part, Zelenskyy has attempted to mend the relationship, emphasizing Ukraine's gratitude toward America and that the country wants "a just and reliable peace."
"We want this war to end," Zelenskyy wrote on X. "But Russia does not, and continues its aerial terror: over the past week, more than 1,050 attack drones, nearly 1,300 aerial bombs, and more than 20 missiles have been launched at Ukraine to destroy cities and kill people."
Guimond said she would like to see all parties come together to talk it out, "and not give two — well, I call them dictators — free reign to do what they like with Ukraine."
She acknowledged there might not be much more Canadians individually can do to help, but encouraged them to offer prayers and look after Ukrainians who have fled the war. "And hope for the best that this ends and ends soon, because it's not going to get any better with all this rhetoric," she added.
Nikashyna said she's skeptical European allies will be reliable in deterring Russia, citing the U.S.'s strength and resources as more influential.
"I hope everyone will be safe," she said, "and I really appreciate the help of other countries and their understanding as well. Because I don't want anyone to experience this war."
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With files from Jacob Barker