Politician turned presenter gave his thoughts on the acrimonous visit of Ukranian President to the White House, which saw him talked over and silenced by US President and his Vice President JD Vance.
Portillo was standing in for Stephen Dixon on Breakfast when he made the remarks. “An irony that occurred to me that JD Vance came to Europe and lectured us on the death of free speech.
“I rather agreed with him,” he said. “But to see Zelensky being silenced, being shouted at every time he tried to speak, I did not see much support of free speech in that particular encounter,” he said.
Co-host Anne Diamond agreed with him. “The awkwardness as well,” she said. “I thought several times, is that English isn’t Zelenskyy’s first language.
“I thought he did extraordinary well, but maybe he didn’t quite understand some of the nuance,” she said.
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Michael Portillo gave his thoughts on President Zelenskyy’s acrimonious visit to the White House (Image: GB News)
She was referring to the fact Zelenskyy appeared confused by the US contingents references to “holding the cards”.
“I’m not sure he took the way Americans talk about holding the cards is the same way. I just wondered is it fair to bully somebody whose first language is not English, in the White House,” she pondered
Michael agreed with her saying: “Absolutely, it was one of the reasons why it was bullying.”
A White House press conference with Trump and Zelenskyy, which was intended to be an opportunity to broker a peace deal, when the US President raged at the Ukranian head: “You are gambling with the lives of millions of people. You are gambling with world war 3.”
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President Zelenskyy and President Trump clashed during the Ukranian’s visit to the White House (Image: Getty)
Trump abruptly ended private talks between the pair, saying: “He can come back when he is ready for peace.” Zelenskyy was in the US to sign a deal giving America access to ’s rare minerals, which it was hoped would ensure deter future Russian aggression once the current war comes to an end.
However Trump responded angrily when Mr Zelensky insisted must be given guarantees that Russian dictator would not break any peace deal, as it did following the Minsk agreements in 2014.
Mr Trump told Mr Zelensky: “What you are doing is disrespectful to the country – this country that’s backed you far more than a lot of people said they should have.”
Private negotiations between the two Presidents then broke down, with Mr Trump stating on the Truth Social social media site: “It’s amazing what comes out through emotion, and I have determined that President Zelensky is not ready for Peace if America is involved, because he feels our involvement gives him a big advantage in negotiations.
“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.”