Durbin: Reagan and McCain are rolling over in graves after Oval Office spat

A senior Senate Democrat says President Trump should be the one thanking Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for standing up to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Sen. Richard Durbin, Illinois Democrat, sided with Mr. Zelenskyy after an extraordinary Oval Office scene Friday in which Mr. Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance accused the Kyiv leader of being ungrateful and not ready for peace with Moscow.

“Former President Ronald Reagan and the late Senator John McCain are rolling over in their graves at the thought of an American president sullying America’s image by siding at the U.N. with dictators in Russia, North Korea, Belarus, and Nicaragua while disrespecting a true American ally—Ukraine,” Mr. Durbin said. “Let me be clear: We cannot let President Trump rewrite history or upend proven partnerships with decades of bipartisan support.”

Mr. Zelenskyy left the White House without signing a minerals deal that was supposed to provide a degree of security for Ukraine, because U.S. personnel would be on the ground in Ukraine.

European leaders and Democrats reacted with shock at the outcome of the meeting.

“After calling the President of Ukraine ‘a dictator’ and blaming him for invading his own country, President Trump and Vice President Vance berated President Zelenskyy for not showing enough gratitude,” Mr. Durbin said. “With 46,000 Ukrainians fallen in battle against the real invader, Vladimir Putin, the United States should be thanking President Zelenskyy for Ukraine’s heroic stand on the frontlines of democracy against the Russian war criminal.”

Mr. Trump said he would welcome Mr. Zelenskyy back to the White House when he is ready for “peace.”