With Ukraine’s future in the balance, a high-stakes meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy devolved into a shouting match.
WASHINGTON — With Ukraine’s future in the balance, a high-stakes meeting on Friday between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy devolved into a shouting match.
The stunning exchange, before cameras and one unlike any other in the Oval Office in modern times, saw Trump and Vice President JD Vance rebuke Zelenskyy for his handling of the war, again falsely blaming the Ukrainian leader for a conflict that began when Russia’s Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion.
Zelenskyy was in Washington to sign an agreement that would give the U.S. access to Ukraine’s mineral resources. But that was before boiling tensions exploded into public view as Trump and Vance accused Zelenskyy of being “disrespectful” toward the United States and the Trump administration.
Their news conference, where they were to sign the deal, was canceled. Trump issued a terse statement and Zelenskyy left shortly after.
WATCH FULL EXCHANGE: Zelenskyy gets into heated argument with Trump, Vance
President Donald Trump shouted at Ukraine’s leader on Friday during an extraordinary meeting in the Oval Office
“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,” Trump said in a social media post. “I don’t want advantage, I want PEACE. He disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office. He can come back when he is ready for Peace.”
Here are key takeaways.
Trump threatens Zelenskyy: ‘Make a deal or we’re out’
After boxing Ukraine and Europe out of initial peace talks with Russia, Trump is continuing to claim Ukraine doesn’t have the “cards right now.”
“You’re gambling with World War III,” Trump told Zelenskyy as they talked over each other in the Oval Office.
With Ukraine’s future in the balance, a high-stakes meeting between President Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy devolved into a shouting match.
The American president then seemed to deliver a kind of ultimatum to the Ukrainian leader.
“You’re either going to make a deal or we’re out,” Trump said. “And if we’re out, you’ll fight it out. I don’t think it’s going to be pretty, but you’ll fight it out.”
