WASHINGTON — A White House meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy erupted into a heated confrontation on Friday afternoon, ending with no agreement being reached and Zelenskyy leaving the Oval Office.
Trump and Vice President JD Vance slammed and criticized Zelenskyy, telling him he wasn’t grateful enough to the United States.
The argument began after Vance told Zelenskyy that the path for Ukraine to find peace with Russia was through diplomacy, which Zelenskyy disagreed.
“He killed our people, and he didn’t exchange prisoners,” Zelenskyy said about Russian President Vladimir Putin. “What kind of diplomacy, JD, you are speaking about? What do you mean?” Zelenskyy said.
“I’m talking about the kind of diplomacy that’s going to end the destruction of your country,” Vance responded. “I think it’s disrespectful for you to come into the Oval Office to try to litigate this in front of the American media right now.”
Vance has a history of voting against U.S. aid to Ukraine. As a senator, he voted against a $95 billion foreign aid package that included substantial funding for Ukraine.
The Oval Office shouting match ended with no agreement being signed for the minerals deal, which Trump and his allies was an important step for Ukraine to find peace with Russia amid the ongoing war.
Zelenskyy abruptly departed the White House and a planned joint press conference was canceled. A White House official confirmed to Fwrd Axis News that Trump felt disrespected by the Ukrainian President and Secretary of State Marco Rubio asked Zelenskyy to leave.
“Do you think that it’s respectful to come to the Oval Office of the United States of America and attack the administration that is trying to prevent the destruction of your country?” Vance told Zelenskyy.
Zelenskyy suggested that the U.S. doesn’t feel the effects of the war because of the “nice ocean” between the two countries. He said the U.S. may not feel the effects now, but added, “You will feel it in the future.”
“Don’t tell us what we’re going to feel because you’re in no position to dictate that,” Trump said, raising his voice and pointing his finger at Zelenskyy. “You’re not in a good position.”
“I’ve empowered you to be a tough guy,” Trump said. “And I don’t think you’d be a tough guy without the United States. And your people are very brave, but you’re either going to make a deal or we’re out, and if we’re out, you’ll fight it out.”
Trump and Vance repeatedly said that Zelenskyy was not thankful.
“You’re not acting at all thankful, and that’s not a nice thing,” Trump said.
As the meeting ended, Ukrainians left the Oval Office to head to a “separated room,” while the U.S. group stayed in the Oval Office, a White House official said.
After leaving the White House, Zelenskyy posted on X: “Thank you America, thank you for your support, thank you for this visit. Thank you @POTUS, Congress, and the American people. Ukraine needs just and lasting peace, and we are working exactly for that.”
