Just hours before the meeting, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina cautioned Zelenskyy against engaging in conflict with Trump. “Don’t take the bait,” Graham advised, urging the Ukrainian leader to avoid heated arguments over security agreements.

I don’t see a reason for such a meeting,” Herbst said. “We know Zelenskyy wanted this meeting last week. It wasn’t exactly his condition, but he really wanted it, and ultimately, the meeting didn’t benefit either Ukraine or,