Calls for a Cease-FireBut Then What?

Published

1 year ago

November 3, 2023

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The protest began with a prayer. Several thousand Muslims knelt in rows before the Capitol building yesterday afternoon, their knees resting on the woven rugs theyd brought from home. Women here and men over there, with onlookers to the side. Seen from the Speakers Balcony, this ranked congregation would have looked like colorful stripes spanning the grassy width of the National Mall.

We are witnessing, before our eyes, the slaughter of thousands of people on our streets, Omar Suleiman, the imam who led the prayer, had said beforehand. We are witnesses to the cruelty that has been inflicted upon our brothers and sisters in Palestine on a regular basis.

The prayer group was part of a demonstration hosted by more than a dozen self-described progressive and religious organizations to call for an Israel-Hamas cease-fire. After Hamas massacred more than 1,400 people, most of them civilians, in its October 7 attack, Israeli bombardments of Gaza have reportedly killed more than 4,000 Palestinians, the great majority of whom were also civilians.

Peter Wehner: The inflection point

Although the protests organizers spanned a broad spectrum of faiths and group affiliations, it appeared that most of the rally attendees were Muslim, judging by the sea of multicolored head scarves and traditional dress. But progressives of other faiths were there, too, waving the red, white, and green flag of Palestine. Rally-goers called for President Joe Biden and the United States to stop supporting Israels blockade and air assault on Gaza. (The first convoy of trucks carrying aid entered Gaza through Egypt this morning, the United Nations reported.) As I moved through the crowd, we heard speeches from Gazan expats and representatives of progressive groups such as Jewish Voice for Peace, the Movement for Black Lives, the Working Families Party, and the Center for Popular Democracy.

Enough is enough, Alpijani Hussein, a Sudanese American government employee who wore a long white tunic, told me. He and a friend carried a banner reading BIDEN GENOCIDE . Every time Hussein, a father of four, sees coverage of children killed in Gaza, he told me, he imagines his own kids wrapped in body bags. Im a father, he said. I can feel the pain.

For nearly two weeks, the world has watched, transfixed, as a litany of horrors from the Middle East has unspooled before our eyes. First, the footage from October 7: the tiny towns on the edge of the desert, bullet-riddled and burning. Parents shot, their hands tied. Women driven off on motorcycles and in trucks. The woman whose pants were drenched in blood. And approximately 200 peopleincluding toddlers, teenagers, grandparentsstolen away and still being held hostage.

Then, more death, this time in Gaza. The body of a boy, gray with ash. Rubble and rebar from collapsed concrete buildings or their ghostly shells. TikTok diaries from teenagers with phones powered by backup generators. Theyre bombing us now, the teens explain, somehow sounding calm. Almost half of Gazas population are under 18; all they have known is Hamas rulethe Islamist group took over in 2007and a series of similar conflicts. A barrage of rockets fired by Hamas and other militants; a wave of air strikes from Israel.

But this time is different: Israel has never been wounded this wayOctober 7 represented the worst attack on Jews since the Holocaustand over the protest hung a frantic sense that the vengeance had only just begun. Hackles were up and, at one point, a police car drove by, sirens blaring. Two women near me clutched each other nervously, but the officer drove on without stopping.

Conor Friedersdorf: A collection of narratives on the Israel-Hamas war

Inside the Capitol, a plain consensus prevailed: Many members of Congress from both parties have opposed a cease-fire and expressed strong support for the U.S. providing military aid to Israel. But outside, things werent so simple; they never are. None of the people I met said they supported Hamas, and certainly not the recent atrocities. But many said that the violence cuts both ways. Israel is a terrorist country in my eyeswhat theyve been doing to the Palestinians, Ramana Rashid, from Northern Virginia, told me. Nearby, people held placards reading ISRAEL=COLONIZERS and ZIONISM=OPPRESSION . Many protesters told me they did not believe that Israel has a right to exist. At various points in the protest, the crowd broke into the chant Palestine will be free! From the river to the sea! (Whatever that slogan might mean for protestersan anti-colonial statement or an assertion of homelandfor most Israelis it is clearly denying the Jewish states right to exist.)

A cease-fire is the minimum to save lives, a D.C. resident named Mikayla, who declined to give her last name, told me. But what we really need is an end to the occupation. Leaning against her bike, she shook her head no when I asked whether Egypt should open its doors to fleeing Palestinians. If Egypt lets Gazans leave the Gaza Strip, then that is the definition of ethnic cleansing, Mikayla said.

Other protesters I spoke with expressed concern only for ending the daily suffering of Gazans. The humanitarian crisis came first; the rest, the political stuff, would come later.

Sheeba Massood, whod come with her friend Rashid from Northern Virginia, burst into tears when I asked why shed wanted to attend. It was important to pray together, she told me. It doesnt matter if youre Muslim, if youre Palestinian, if youre a Christian, if youre Jewish, Massood said, we are all witnessing the killing of all of these children that are innocent. Everything else, she said, was politics.

When I asked the demonstrators what might happen in the region, practically, after a cease-fire was enforced, most of them demurred. Im not a politician to know all the details and technicalities of it, a Virginia man named Shoaib told me. But I think just for one horrible thing, you dont just go kill innocent kids.

Every person I met was angry with Biden. The president has been unwavering in his support for Israel since October 7, and in an Oval Office address on Thursday, he reiterated his case for requesting funds from Congress for military aid to Israel. That same day, a senior State Department official resigned over the administrations decision to keep sending weapons to Israel without humanitarian conditions.

Read: Around the world, demonstrations of support, grief, and anger

In his remarks on Thursday, Biden spoke of the need for Americans to oppose anti-Semitism and Islamophobia equally. Fridays demonstrators, so many of whom were Muslim Americans, were not impressed with that evenhandedness.

Mr. President, you have failed the test, Osama Abu Irshaid, the executive director of American Muslims for Palestine, said from the podium outside of the Capitol. Ice-cream trucks parked nearby for tourists played jingles softly as he spoke. You broke your promise to restore Americas moral authority. Frankie Seabron, from the Black-led community group Harriets Wildest Dreams, led the crowd in chants of Shame directed at Biden. This is a battle against oppression, she said. We as Black Americans can understand! The crowd, which was beginning to thin, cheered its agreement.

As is generally the case, the program went on far too long. After two hours of speeches, the enthusiasm of an already thinned-out crowd was waning. The temperature dropped and raindrops fell, gently at first, then steadily. Finally, after organizers distributed blood-red carnations to every rally-goer, the group began the trek to the presidents house.

The demonstrators marched slowly at first up Pennsylvania Avenue, struggling with their banners in the driving rain. But as the remaining protesters got closer to the White House, the rain paused, and the sun peeked through the dark clouds. The protesters laid their flowers in the square before the White House gatesan offering and a demand for a different future for Gaza.

US

Starmer in crisis talks with Zelenskyy and Trump following heated White House exchange

Published

30 mins ago

March 1, 2025

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Starmer in crisis talks with Zelenskyy and Trump following heated White House exchange

Sir Keir Starmer has held crisis talks over the phone with both Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Donald Trump following their heated exchange in the White House.

Mr Zelenskyy travelled to Washington DC as he attempted to secure a ceasefire agreement with Russia and a possible mineral deal with the US.

But his visit ended prematurely – with the signing of an agreement and a joint press conference with Mr Trump cancelled following their clash in the Oval Office.

Ukraine latest: Russian official responds to White House meeting

After the extraordinary meeting, both Mr Trump and Mr Zelenskyy spoke to the media and gave their reactions.

Meanwhile, European leaders, including France’s Emmanuel Macron and Poland’s Donald Tusk shared their support for Ukraine.

And in a statement, a Downing Street spokesperson said Sir Keir had spoken to both Mr Trump and Mr Zelenskyy.

The spokesperson said: “He [Sir Keir] retains unwavering support for Ukraine, and is doing all he can to find a path forward to a lasting peace based on sovereignty and security for Ukraine.”

The spokesperson added that the prime minister was “looking forward” to welcoming Mr Zelenskyy to the UK for a summit of international leaders on Sunday.

‘Disrespectful’

As Mr Trump and Mr Zelenskyy met, with US vice president JD Vance joining them, tensions rose and a shouting match unfolded – all while cameras rolled and representatives from the media looked on.

The last 10 minutes of the almost 45-minute meeting descended into a tense back-and-forth, which began with Mr Vance telling Mr Zelenksyy: “I think it’s disrespectful for you to come to the Oval Office to try to litigate this in front of the American media.

“You should be thanking the President [Trump] for trying to bring an end to this conflict.”

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As the Ukrainian president tried to object, Mr Trump raised his voice and told him: “You’re gambling with the lives of millions of people.

“You’re gambling with World War Three, and what you’re doing is very disrespectful to the country, this country that’s backed you far more than a lot of people say they should have.”

“You’re right now not in a very good position,” he continued. “You don’t have the cards right now with us, you start having problems right now.”

‘This will be great television,’ says Trump

At one point, Mr Vance blasted Mr Zelenskyy for airing “disagreements” in front of the media, but the US president remarked: “I think it’s good for the American people to see what’s going on.”

“You’re not acting at all thankful,” he said. “This is going to be great television.”

Defending himself and his country, the Ukrainian president openly challenged Mr Trump on his softer approach to Vladimir Putin and urged him to make “no compromises with a killer”.

This fiery spectacle was hard to witness

Deborah Haynes

Security and Defence Editor

@haynesdeborah

The fiery and very public bust-up between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy is a disaster for Ukraine and its European allies, and a triumph for Russia.

The spectacle of the US president berating his Ukrainian counterpart and telling him he is gambling with World War Three – played out on television from the Oval Office – was hard to witness.

Zelenskyy, looking increasingly uncomfortable, decided to fight back. He likely felt he had little choice but to defend himself and his war-torn country.

But this act of defiance drew even more condemnation from Trump as well as from JD Vance, who also started attacking the Ukrainian leader.

It is hard to imagine a greater contrast from the chummy scenes between Sir Keir Starmer and Trump and the scolding language used by the American president against Zelenskyy, at times addressing him as though he were a naughty schoolboy.

Ukraine’s president, his arms crossed, tried his best to speak up, but he was clearly fighting a losing battle. The extraordinary breakdown is far more serious than just a made-for-television drama.

American support for Ukraine is critical if Kyiv is to withstand Russia’s war. The UK, France and Ukraine’s other European allies have been working overtime to try to keep Trump on their side.

The US president has vowed to end the war and has started talks with Vladimir Putin. The two presidents also plan to meet. That alone was hard for Ukraine to witness.

But the Ukrainian side has attempted to work with Washington rather than against it, including by being willing to part with profits from its minerals and other natural resources in return for locking Trump into a long-term partnership with Ukraine.

That all looks to be shattered – or at best is in serious jeopardy.

If Trump, in anger, withdraws all his military support to Ukraine, Kyiv’s ability to withstand Russia’s military will be seriously diminished.

The Europeans lack the capability to fill the void. The only person who wins in this scenario is Vladimir Putin.

Posting on his Truth Social platform shortly after the clash, Mr Trump described the meeting as “very meaningful” and said: “Much was learned that could never be understood without conversation under such fire and pressure.

“It’s amazing what comes out through emotion, and I have determined that President Zelenskyy is not ready for Peace if America is involved, because he feels our involvement gives him a big advantage in negotiations.”

He continued: “I don’t want advantage, I want PEACE. He disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office. He can come back when he is ready for Peace.”

Zelenskyy posts on X after early exit

Mr Trump and Mr Zelenskyy had been due to have lunch with their delegations in the White House’s cabinet room after the meeting – but untouched salad plates and other items were seen being packed up as the meal was hastily called off.

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Such was the gulf following the row that Mr Trump told the Ukrainian leader to leave the White House, according to a US official, with the minerals deal now stuck in limbo.

Having left the White House early, Mr Zelenskyy said in a post on X: “Thank you America, thank you for your support, thank you for this visit.

“Thank you @POTUS, Congress, and the American people. Ukraine needs just and lasting peace, and we are working exactly for that.”

Zelenskyy speaks to Fox News

What was supposed to be a victory lap on Fox News turned into disaster management for Mr Zelenskyy.

In an interview, he portrayed the meeting as a moment of frank and divergent views between the two but said he did not see the need to apologise.

He added he wished that Mr Trump was “more on our side” after the US president said he was in the middle of Ukraine and Russia.

“I want, really, him to be more on our side,” Mr Zelenskyy said. “It’s not just that the war began somewhere between our countries. The war began when Russia brought this war to our country. And they’re not right.”

Mr Zelenskyy also expressed a belief that the relationship could be salvaged.

Trump jets off to Florida – but not without a last word

After the White House row, Mr Trump later spoke to reporters as he left for a weekend at his Florida home.

“What he’s got to say is, ‘I want to make peace.’ He doesn’t have to stand there and say ‘Putin this, Putin that,’ all negative things. He’s got to say, ‘I want to make peace. I don’t want to fight a war anymore’,” Mr Trump said.

Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev appeared to revel in the spectacle, writing on Telegram that the Ukrainian leader had received a “brutal dressing down”.

European leaders rally on social media

Meanwhile, in the fallout, European and world leaders were quick to rally and express their support for Mr Zelenskyy ahead of a summit in the UK on Sunday.

A number of leaders including Canada’s Justin Trudeau, France’s Emmanuel Macron and Germany’s Olaf Scholz all tweeted.

After the Ukrainian leader was criticised in the White House for insufficient thanks to the US, he thanked the leaders individually on X.

Mr Zelenskyy also spoke with Mr Macron, NATO secretary general Mark Rutte and EU Council president Antonio Costa by phone.

This all comes as on Sunday, Sir Keir Starmer is hosting a meeting of European leaders and Mr Zelenskyy to discuss any potential security backstop in Ukraine.

US

Trump ‘offended’ by Zelenskyy not wearing a suit in White House

Published

30 mins ago

March 1, 2025

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Trump 'offended' by Zelenskyy not wearing a suit in White House

The Ukrainian president was advised to wear a suit to the White House and Donald Trump was offended when he didn’t, according to reports.

Ahead of the historic meeting, Volodymyr Zelenskyy was advised by Trump’s team to ditch his usual military-style clothing for something more formal, Axios reports.

However, he didn’t, instead opting to wear all black.

This irritated Mr Trump ahead of what quickly became a car crash of a meeting, according to two sources who spoke to Axios.

Amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, which has resulted in the deaths of thousands, it was Mr Zelenskyy’s outfit that seemed to set the meeting off on a bad track.

As Mr Trump shook Mr Zelenskyy’s hand at the entrance to the West Wing, he said: “He is all dressed up today.”

Ukraine latest: Trump mocks ‘big shot’ Zelenskyy after fiery White House clash

Then, during the disastrous press conference, reporter Brian Glenn asked Mr Zelenskyy, “why don’t you wear a suit”, accusing him of having a lack of respect for America.

“I will wear a costume when this war is finished,” the Ukrainian leader responded. “Maybe something like yours. Maybe something better. Maybe something cheaper.”

In Ukrainian, the word “kostium” (pronounced ‘costume’) means “suit”.

Why doesn’t Zelenskyy wear a suit?

Mr Zelenskyy, who was elected in 2019, is often seen wearing olive green jumpers, emblazoned with the Ukrainian trident, alongside combat boots.

It is a signal to the world that his country is still at war. It reflects his solidarity with the armed forces and those fighting on the frontline.

The casual attire serves as a reminder that Ukraine is an active battlefield.

While Mr Zelenskyy did wear suits before the war, reflecting his role as head of state, he has stated he will not return to doing so until the war has ended.

In December, he wore a similar outfit for the reopening ceremony of Notre Dame cathedral in Paris, as well as for his meeting with then President-elect Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron.

Many social media users were quick to point out that Elon Musk did not wear a suit during his recent visit to the Oval Office.

Images also began circulating of Winston Churchill visiting the White House during the Second World War, dressed in a wartime “siren suit”.

Churchill wore the one-piece air raid outfit during a visit to President Franklin D Roosevelt, in which he hoped to persuade the American public to join the war.

Ironically, a bust of Churchill was present in the room during the meeting between Mr Trump and Mr Zelenskyy, which ended in the Ukrainian leader leaving the White House without agreeing to the deal on minerals he had flown 5,000 miles to seal.

Mr Zelenskyy is now due to travel to the UK for a summit with European leaders on Sunday.

US

Trump 100 Day 41: Is there any coming back from Trump Vs Zelenskyy?

Published

30 mins ago

March 1, 2025

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Trump 100 Day 41: Is there any coming back from Trump Vs Zelenskyy?

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A diplomatic earthquake unfolded at the White House on Friday as President Zelenskyy and President Trump imploded in a shouting match in front of the world’s media.

On episode 41 of Trump100 US correspondents Mark Stone and James Matthews ask what went wrong at the pivotal meeting between world leaders. They debate who was in the wrong and ask what happens now, with a minerals deal left unsigned.

You can email James, Mark and Martha on trump100@sky.uk