Zelenskyy and Trump clash in a heated Oval Office meeting
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.S. President Donald Trump clashed repeatedly on Friday, with Zelenskyy urging Trump to be cautious with Russia
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.S. President Donald Trump clashed repeatedly on Friday, with Zelenskyy urging Trump to be cautious with Russia and Trump accusing him of being disrespectful, as simmering differences spilled into the open.
President Donald Trump dressed down Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office on Friday in a remarkable public spat that jeopardized continued U.S. support for Ukraine in its war with Russia.
A tense exchange turned into a verbal explosion after Vice President JD Vance told Zelenskyy he was being “disrespectful” to Trump and should be thanking the U.S. rather than lecturing it on the cause of the war.
Shortly after the meeting blew up, Trump said he’s “determined that President Zelenskyy is not ready for Peace if America is involved.”
Zelenskyy left the White House without signing a deal for the U.S. to receive revenue from Ukraine’s minerals in exchange for military assistance.
“He disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office. He can come back when he is ready for Peace,” Trump said in a statement.
The meeting came after Trump opened negotiations this month with Russian President Vladimir Putin to end to the war in Ukraine in a dramatic break from longstanding U.S. policy and the Biden administration’s complete support for Ukraine. A joint press conference that was scheduled for Trump and Zelenskyy to hold after the meeting was canceled.
As tempers flared in the Oval Office, Zelenskyy told Trump an ocean separates the U.S. from the conflict now, “but you will feel it in the future.”
“Don’t tell us what we’re going to feel. We’re trying to solve a problem.
Don’t tell us what we’re going to feel,” Trump retorted.
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Zelenskyy interjected. “I’m not telling you,” he said. Vance hit back. “That’s exactly what you’re doing,” the vice president said.
“You’re in no position to dictate what we’re going to feel,” a heated Trump responded. “We are going to feel very good and very strong. You’re right now not in a very good position….You’re not in a good position. You don’t have the cards right now. With us, you start having cards.”
Trump continued; “You’re gambling with the lives of millions of people. You’re gambling with WWIII….And what you’re doing is very respectful to the country, this country.”
Vance dove in again, and asked if he’d said thank you once, and hit Zelenskyy for a visit he made to the battleground state of Pennsylvania, just before the 2024 U.S. presidential election.
Zelenskyy tried to defend himself, telling Vance that “you think that if you will speak very loudly about the war…” But it was Trump who jumped back in to tell him, “Your country’s in big trouble.”
“You have a damn good chance of coming out okay because of us,” Trump said.
At one point, Trump told Zelenskyy, “The problem is I’ve empowered you to be a tough guy. I don’t think you’d be a tough guy without the U.S. You’re people are very brave. But, you’re either going to make a deal or we’re out.”
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