Ukrainians in Milwaukee and around the world have been rallying around President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the aftermath of the ambush he suffered at the White House on February 28. Donald Trump and JD Vance used the meeting to publicly humiliate the wartime leader and promote Russian lies.
Members of the Ukrainian community in Wisconsin mobilized to counter what they called “Russian disinformation,” and demand that the U.S. honor its security promises and treaty guarantees to support their homeland.
The stark Oval Office confrontation between Zelenskyy, Trump, and Vance was broadcast live from Washington DC. It immediately reverberated in Kyiv, where citizens praised Zelenskyy for upholding their country’s dignity. That same wave of solidarity surged nearly 5,000 miles away to Milwaukee, Madison, and Green Bay, where local activists gathered on March 2.
Part of their public message was to debunk Trump’s lies with the truth. They also denounced what was widely seen as cynical attempts to smear Ukraine in order to gain favor with Russia’s dictator Putin.
At the Milwaukee rally, participants rallied to refute the ongoing disinformation spread about Ukraine and reaffirm their call for robust U.S. assistance. Organizers said that Russian disinformation had grown worse since Trump’s Oval Office blowup.
Kremlin-aligned voices have tried to portray President Zelenskyy as an ungrateful recipient of U.S. aid and claiming Ukraine should make concessions to end its three-year-old war, which Russia started in 2022 when it launched a brutal and provoked full-scale invasion.
“We cannot afford to look away. Ukraine’s fight is a fight for democracy, freedom, and global stability,” said Halyna Salapata, president of the humanitarian nonprofit Wisconsin Ukrainians Inc., in a statement included in the group’s official press release. “This rally is a reminder that the American people stand with Ukraine and that our support must remain strong.”
During the White House meeting, President Zelenskyy tried to highlight Russia’s pattern of breaking international agreements and stressed that Moscow could not be trusted. He pointed out that Russia invaded and annexed Crimea in 2014, then launched a full-scale invasion in 2022—a position that resonates deeply with Ukrainians who have endured bombing campaigns, mass displacement, and documented Russian war crimes.
The Ukrainian leader also warned that giving in to a rushed deal, without security guarantees, would only embolden Moscow to escalate again at a later date. The meeting soured when Trump, dissatisfied with Zelenskyy’s refusal to concede certain points, ordered him to leave and canceled plans to sign a trade agreement.
The deal would have created a jointly managed investment fund to rebuild Ukraine and give the U.S. access to rare earth minerals, which Ukraine possesses in large deposits. Trump has repeatedly framed that agreement as a way for Ukraine to repay the United States for past aid.
Across the United States, Americans from all walks of life have been flooding social media with messages of solidarity for Ukraine, expressing support for the Ukrainian people and apologizing for Trump’s monstrous betrayal.
Many posts denounced Trump’s decision to shut down humanitarian parole for Ukrainian refugees and his public humiliation of President Zelenskyy, calling it a disgrace to American values and 80 years of global leadership.
In Milwaukee, Wisconsin Ukrainians Inc. has received dozens of messages and posts on its Facebook group page. Supporters have shared heartfelt words, pledging continued advocacy and condemning Trump’s actions as a dangerous abandonment of an ally fighting for its survival:
“I don’t even have words strong enough for how angry and ashamed I am right now. What happened in that meeting was a disgrace.”
“I reach out to you on the third anniversary of the war while negotiations have begun between the United States and Russia. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your people.”
“I watched today’s President’s meeting, and I’m embarrassed on behalf of my country. Zelensky is a great man, and we would be so lucky as to have such a man as our President. It takes a fine leader thinking about the wellbeing of his people to not have hit Trump right in his stupid mouth.”
“To my Ukrainian friends, I want to apologize for the way your president was treated in Washington. What happened in the Oval Office was an embarrassment to my country, and I want to make it clear that many of us reject the actions of our so-called leaders. Trump’s behavior was cruel, unnecessary, and deeply un-American. We see what is happening, and we will not stop speaking out.”
“I usually do not publicly get involved with events that may be considered political, but I was so horrified with the treatment shown on February 28 by our US president and vice president to Ukraine’s president that I have felt I must somehow express my feelings. In watching a news report, I saw a person from Wisconsin Ukrainians Inc. speaking about that treatment, so I thought I would reach out to your organization. I would very much like for people in Ukraine to understand that there are many people in the United States who were horrified by what they saw yesterday. We do not support the kind of treatment that we saw exhibited by our president and vice president. I am an 81-year-old former teacher who had the privilege of visiting Ukraine about 10 years ago. All I have are wonderful memories of that visit. We learned a lot about Ukraine’s difficult history and were always treated graciously. I am embarrassed and saddened when I see some Americans behaving so rudely. If possible, I would appreciate it if that message could be shared with people in Ukraine.”
“Praying for Ukraine and embarrassed, ashamed of our national leaders.”
“Trump and Vance’s treatment of Zelensky was a national disgrace. I am so sorry that our government is abandoning Ukraine when it needs us most.”
“I watched in horror as Trump and Vance treated President Zelensky with utter disrespect. To see the leader of a nation under siege, a man who has carried his people through unimaginable suffering, be met with arrogance and cruelty in the White House was infuriating.”
“I saw what happened to President Zelensky at the White House, and I am filled with rage and sadness. To treat an ally with such contempt is despicable.”
“This administration has made it clear that they do not stand with Ukraine, but millions of us do. Trump and Vance’s actions yesterday were not just embarrassing; they were dangerous.”
“I have never been more embarrassed to be an American. What happened yesterday was beyond shameful, and I want Ukraine to know we stand with them.”
“I am so upset and embarrassed by ‘my president.’ What an ass and such a disgrace. Please let those in the Homeland know how many Americans love and support your country.”
“I run a group of over 600 women in Washington County. What can we do to support you?”
“What happened yesterday to President Zelensky was disgraceful. My family and I would like to apologize to the Ukrainian people and would like to know how we can support Ukraine right now.”
“The way Trump and Vance humiliated Zelensky was sickening. They are not just betraying Ukraine—they are betraying everything America is supposed to stand for.”
“I felt compelled to contact you to tell you how sorry and embarrassed I am at how Trump and Vance acted yesterday toward President Zelensky. I want all Ukrainians to know that is not what the United States is about or at least wasn’t before a bully was elected into the Oval Office. Ukraine has many supporters in this country who are ashamed at what the administration is doing. Again, I am so sorry.”
“As an American, I am disgusted and ashamed by what I witnessed yesterday. President Zelensky deserved respect, not ridicule.”
“We feel like we need to apologize to our Ukrainian friends for this nightmare growing more macabre and outrageous every day.”
“I cannot believe what I watched yesterday. Trump and Vance behaved like petty, cruel tyrants toward a man who has spent years fighting for his country’s survival. Ukraine should know that the actions of these two men do not represent America as a whole. Millions of us stand behind President Zelensky and support Ukraine’s fight for freedom. Please tell the people of Ukraine that they are not alone. We are furious and heartbroken, but we will not give up on them.”
“As a US citizen, I feel very strongly about the necessity of Ukrainian input in negotiations and guaranteed payment by the Russians to rebuild what they have destroyed. I have communicated this to President Donald Trump.”
“I watched the mediation process today and my heart is broken for Zelensky and Ukraine.”
“I am appalled and embarrassed by the treatment of President Zelenskyy in the Oval Office today. Please know that a good share of Americans feel the same way. Our hearts are with the Ukrainian people! President Zelenskyy demonstrated integrity and resolve amidst two thugs! He is a true hero! Slava Ukraine!”
“So deeply embarrassed and ashamed by T and V. Deepened our respect for Zelensky.”
Organizers said the Milwaukee rally aimed to remind the public that the disinformation campaign hurts Ukraine’s ability to defend itself, diminishes American resolve, and risks handing propaganda victories to Putin.
“Ukraine’s fight is about human rights and the defense of democracy,” said Salapata. “Helping Ukraine is in America’s strategic interest. Putin’s ambitions won’t stop at Ukraine’s border.”
The rally in Milwaukee was held in front of the Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse, a symbolic choice the organizers said highlighted their plea for stronger institutional backing from America’s leaders. The crowd of a few hundred was a mix of local Ukrainians and Milwaukee residents who supported Ukraine. The overflow of people necessitated the Milwaukee police department to temporarily close the street.
“It is a critical moment to counter false narratives,” said Salapata. “We aim to ensure that all who value democracy and human rights do not become complacent about Russia’s invasion. Let there be no doubt about who is the aggressor.”
In their press release for the March 2 rally, the event organizers underscore five primary falsehoods about Ukraine that have circulated online and in some American political circles, along with factual rebuttals that they insist reflect the reality on the ground:
FALSE CLAIM: Ukraine started the war.
• REBUTTAL: Russia invaded Crimea in 2014 and launched a full-scale invasion in 2022. Ukraine had no choice but to defend itself, a stance recognized by international law and numerous global institutions.
FALSE CLAIM: Zelenskyy is a dictator.
• REBUTTAL: Ukraine is a democracy. Elections were postponed only because of martial law — standard procedure during wartime. Zelenskyy was elected in 2019 in a free and fair contest, and opinion surveys show broad support for his leadership.
FALSE CLAIM: The U.S. alone has provided more aid to Ukraine than Europe.
• REBUTTAL: The European Union and its member states have collectively provided over $100 billion in assistance—more than American contributions. Many European nations have also taken in refugees and supplied critical military equipment.
FALSE CLAIM: Ukraine should simply “make a deal” with Russia to avoid war.
• REBUTTAL: No sovereign state is obligated to surrender territory to an invader. Accepting Russia’s demands would reward aggression and invite more destabilizing attacks down the line.
FALSE CLAIM: Russia is not the aggressor.
• REBUTTAL: Russia’s illegal military actions in Ukraine — bombing civilians and occupying major areas — leave no doubt that it is the sole aggressor, a fact backed by U.N. resolutions and widespread global condemnation.
The rally in Milwaukee underscored a deep sense of urgency among Ukrainian Americans and their allies, who see Trump’s betrayal as not just an abandonment of Ukraine but a broader erosion of democratic values.
Salapata emphasized that misinformation and political gamesmanship in Washington only served to embolden Putin, making Ukraine’s struggle even more difficult. As chants of “Slava Ukraini” echoed through the crowd along Wisconsin Avenue, speakers made it clear that their fight was not only about Ukraine’s survival but about defending the very principles of freedom and sovereignty.
“The stakes are bigger than just one country,” Salapata added. “If we let Ukraine fall, we are telling every dictator in the world that might makes right.”
© Photo
Lee Matz
