Marco Rubio denies Zelensky is being ‘bullied’ by Trump amid European leaders meeting

WorldPolitics
18 Aug 2025 • 1:55 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

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  • Marco Rubio dismissed the "stupid media narrative" that Donald Trump would bully Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky into a disadvantageous deal with Russia.
  • Rubio clarified that European leaders attending the meeting with Zelensky were invited by Trump and are not present as "backup" against bullying.
  • Trump recently held a nearly three-hour meeting with Russian President Putin in Anchorage to discuss the war in Ukraine, but no ceasefire agreement was reached.
  • The article references a past contentious meeting in Washington D.C. where Trump accused Zelensky of gambling with "World War Three" and Vice President JD Vance questioned Zelensky's gratitude.
  • Rubio refused to disclose any potential concessions Trump might seek from Russia, stating that revealing such details could jeopardise the negotiations.

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