Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson shared his thoughts on President Trump's heated Oval Office meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in an interview with NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday.
Moderator Kristen Welker asked Johnson what he thought about comments by Sen. Lindsey Graham—a once staunch supporter of Ukraine on the Republican side—in which he said that for Ukraine-Russia peace agreements to occur, Zelensky may need to resign.
Advertisement
“What I saw in the Oval Office was disrespectful and I don’t know if we can ever do business with Zelensky again,” Graham said on Friday. "He [Zelensky] either needs to resign, and send somebody over that we can do business with, or he needs to change."
Johnson seemed to agree that “something has to change” in order for peace to occur.
“Either he [Zelensky] needs to come to his senses and come back to the table in gratitude or someone else needs to lead the country to do that,” Johnson told Welker.
At the same time, Johnson maintained that Republicans do “understand” that Russian President Vladimir Putin is a “dangerous adversary” to the U.S., and that the U.S. is “not abandoning Ukraine.”
He also remained firm on his position that the potential U.S.-Ukraine minerals deal—the discussion of which was the original intent of Trump and Zelensky’s Oval Office meeting on Friday—would be “a win for everyone.”
Johnson continued: “It will give us access to rare earth minerals that we need, and it will provide a level of security for Ukraine.”
The discussion about Zelensky’s leadership coincided with the Ukrainian leader's trip to London. After touching down on Saturday, he and other European leaders gathered for a summit on Sunday to discuss a path toward peace for Ukraine.
On Sunday evening, Zelensky sat down with reporters at London Stansted Airport before leaving the U.K. He was asked by Sky News what he thought of Graham and Johnson's comments about him perhaps resigning.
In response, Zelensky said Graham is a "good guy," but went on to add: "I can give [Graham] citizenship of Ukraine and he will become a citizen of our country. And then his voice will start to gain weight, and I will hear him as a citizen of Ukraine on the topic of who must be the President."
He added: "The President of Ukraine will have to be chosen not in Lindsay Graham's home but in Ukraine."
On the wider topic of resignation, Zelensky echoed comments he made at a press conference on Feb. 23—prior to his and Trump’s pivotal meeting, but amid rising tensions —when he said he would be ready to resign if it guaranteed peace for Ukraine and he could do it in exchange for NATO.
Reiterating that stance on Sunday, he said: "I have said that I am exchanging for NATO membership, then it means I have fulfilled my mission. NATO means I have fulfilled my mission."
Read More: World Leaders React to Zelensky and Trump’s Oval Office Showdown
In contrast to Graham and Johnson, some Republicans are uninterested in mentions of Zelensky resigning. Oklahoma Sen. James Lankford appeared separately on Meet The Press on Sunday, and said if Zelensky were to resign it would “spiral Ukraine into chaos.” He also showed an understanding of Zelensky’s viewpoint, stating he was “rightfully concerned” about Russian negotiations.
“No, we’re not turning our back on Ukraine, nor should we,” Lankford said. “Putin is a murderous KGB thug that murders his political enemies and is a dictator.”
Other U.S. lawmakers to speak out against the mention of Zelensky resigning include Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who—also on Meet the Press—called Johnson’s comments a “horrific suggestion.”
“Zelensky is leading a country, trying to defend democracy against an authoritarian dictator, Putin, who invaded his country,” Sanders said.
In the aftermath of Trump’s meeting with Zelensky, many European leaders have rallied behind Zelensky. Sunday's European leaders summit, led by U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, considered short and long-term security plans for the country.
“I hope you know that we are all with you and the people of Ukraine for as long as it takes, everyone around this table,” Starmer said to Zelensky at the summit, which was also attended by Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, during his opening remarks.
Starmer went on to share that he and other European leaders will work with Ukraine on a plan to stop the fighting amid Russia’s war in Ukraine, and will then present that to the U.S.