President Donald Trump’s meeting Friday with Volodymyr Zelenskiy quickly devolved into a fiery exchange when the Ukrainian leader cast doubt on the likelihood US efforts to broker a deal with Russia would yield lasting peace.
The reaction by Zelenskiy inspired an angry response from Trump and US Vice President JD Vance, who suggested his criticism — delivered in the Oval Office — was disrespectful and inhibiting an end to the bloody three-year war. Minutes later Trump posted to social media saying that Zelenskiy could return to the White House when he was ready to make peace.
“I have determined that President Zelenskyy 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,” Trump said in the post. “He disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office. He can come back when he is ready for Peace.”
Trump’s comments indicated plans to sign a deal that would have allowed the US to gain from developing Ukraine’s critical minerals as a step toward brokering a ceasefire agreement with Russia are in doubt. Zelenskiy was set to depart the White House without attending a press conference where the two leaders were slated to sign the minerals deal.
The cancellation capped a remarkable exchange in the Oval Office that saw the two leaders openly bicker over their approach to resolving the war.
“It’s going to be very hard to do business like this,” Trump said, telling Zelenskiy he was not sure the Ukrainian leader could make a deal. “You’ve got to be more thankful, because let me tell you, you don’t have the cards. With us, you have the cards, but without us you don’t have any cards.”
“You’re gambling with World War III,” Trump continued. “And what you’re doing is very disrespectful to the country — this country — that’s backed you far more than a lot of people said they should,” he said. “You’re either going to make a deal or we’re out, and if we’re out, you’ll fight it out. I don’t think it is going to be pretty.”
The meeting had been intended as a moment of unity between the leaders, who were set to sign the natural resources agreement, which was designed to satisfy Trump’s concerns that US aid would not be repaid. Trump had touted the agreement as a major commitment from the US to Ukraine as he initially welcomed Zelenskiy to the White House for a high-stakes meeting with stark implications for the fight to repel Russia’s invasion.
“It’s a pathway to peace. It’s a pathway to getting something solved,” Trump said.
The deal, however, fails to offer the explicit security guarantees Zelenskiy had wanted, instead focusing on the economic partnership between the US and Ukraine. Zelenskiy told Trump that Russian President Vladimir Putin had repeatedly violated previous ceasefire agreements and that Ukraine would never accept a simple ceasefire to conclude the war. He insisted to Trump that the mineral deal was not enough to ensure Ukraine’s security.
“Putin will never stop and will go further and further,” Zelenskiy said, adding that the Russian leader “hates Ukrainians” and wanted to destroy the country. “We can do it, but it’s not enough,” he added of the deal.
Public Clash
The underlying tension between the leaders was obvious. Trump had his eyes closed and was tapping his fingers as Zelenskiy stressed his concerns about Putin reneging on an agreement. When Trump downplayed the threat of a future attack, the Ukrainian leader shook his head.
“I’m in the middle. I want to solve this thing. I’m for both,” Trump insisted. “It’s wonderful to speak badly about somebody else, but I want to get it solved.”
Then the meeting exploded when Vance, sitting nearby, criticized Zelenskiy’s approach.
“Do you think that it’s respectful to come to the Oval Office of the United States of America and attack the administration that’s trying to prevent the destruction of your country?” Vance asked.
Trump said Zelenskiy had “tremendous hatred” for Putin and suggested that the anger could be inhibiting a deal, while also defending his warm relations with the Russian leader as more likely to yield results.
“I could be tougher than any human being you’ve ever seen. I’d be so tough, but you’re never going to get it done that way,” Trump said.
And the leaders sparred after Zelenskiy suggested Trump did not understand the issue because the US was protected by an ocean, and didn’t face the looming threat from Russia.
“You’re in no position to dictate what we’re going to feel. We’re going to feel very good. We’re going to feel very good and very strong. You’re right now not in a very good position. You’ve allowed yourself to be in a very bad position,” Trump said.
- Also read: Trump-Zelenskyy Oval Office confrontation LIVE coverage: Key takeaways and reactions
“Have you said thank you once?” Vance added. The vice president went on to suggest Zelenskiy had campaigned for former Vice President Kamala Harris with his trip last fall to an ammunition plant in the battleground state of Pennsylvania.
“Offer some words of appreciation for the United States of America and the president who’s trying to save your country,” Vance admonished.
Minerals Deal
The fate of the natural resources deal remained in doubt as the meeting broke. The US president originally called the deal an “exciting moment” and said funds from the deal could also be used for artificial intelligence and military weapons. He reiterated that he would continue military sales to Ukraine.
“We don’t know exactly how much because we’re going to be putting some money in a fund that we’re going to get from the raw earth that we’re going to be taking and sharing in terms of revenues, so it’s going to be a lot of money,” he said.
Still, Trump has downplayed calls for more explicit security guarantees, suggesting the economic ties between Ukraine and the US would suffice to deter Putin from further aggression.
“I think once we make the agreement, that’s going to be 95% of it, it’s not going to go back to fighting,” Trump said. “I’ve spoken with President Putin, and I think, I mean, I feel very strong. I’ve known him for a long time, and I feel very strongly that they’re very serious about it.”
“I’m not worried about security, I’m worried about getting the deal done,” the president added.
Zelenskiy’s visit caps a dramatic week that saw both French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer visit Washington to push Trump to offer US support for a European for a “backstop” to protect Ukraine from further attacks.
France and the UK have discussed deploying a peacekeeping force but any such initiative will require US assistance, but Trump has declined to provide any assurances of US support and cast it as an issue for Europe to deal with. The US president has also pressured allies to contribute more to collective security.
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