Donald Trump clashed with Volodymia Zelensky in a fierce White House exchange, and the US president told his Ukrainian counterpart to make a deal with Russia.
The pair repeatedly interrupted each other in front of the media between what appears to be the prelude to the two leaders signing the mineral contract.
After relations first strained in Trump’s handling of Ukrainian peace talks with Russia, the mineral agreement was assumed to be a stepping stone towards further security ties between the nations.
However, Zelensky was told by the Americans to leave before signing the contract.
At one point, Trump told Zelensky that he was not fully grateful for the US military and political support and “gambling with World War I.”
Zelensky previously claimed that there was no compromise with Russian President Vladimir Putin, but Trump said Kiev must make concessions to reach a peace deal with Russia.
Russia began a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and now controls about 20% of Ukrainian territory.
The conference discussing US ukraine trade, including access to Ukrainian oil, gas and rare minerals, comes after the new US president appeared to blame Zelensky on the war and cheated him by not launching peace talks with Russia before.
His tone has softened recently, saying Trump has “a lot of respect” to the Ukrainian leader.
However, Friday’s conversation went sour after JD Vance, the US vice president who sat with the other politicians in the room, told Zelensky that the war had to end through diplomacy.
Zelensky responded by referring to the previous 2019 ceasefire agreement, three years before the full-scale Russian invasion, when Moscow supported and armed separatist fighters in eastern Ukraine.
The vice president then accused Zelensky of being rude and “litigating” the situation before the media.
From there, the debate escalated quickly as Trump and Vance accused the Ukrainian president of being ungrateful for his three years of US support during the war with Russia.
Shortly after the meeting, and well ahead of the pre-planned schedule, Zelensky was seen leaving the White House in an official vehicle.
Trump told True Social, the social media platform he owns, “Zelensky downplayed the United States with his precious oval office.”
“We feel our involvement gives him a great advantage in negotiations, so President Zelensky has decided that if America is involved, he is not ready for peace,” the Republican president continued. “I don’t want any advantage, I want peace.”
Zelensky also posted on social media and thanked the President and the United States four times.
In a later interview with Fox News, Zelensky said public vomiting was “not good” — but his relationship with Trump could be saved.
“The relationship is because there are more than two presidents,” he said.
Reactions to the White House meeting between American politicians appeared to have fallen along partisan lines, with Republicans praising Trump and Democrats for criticizing him.
Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham – a former solid supporter of Ukraine – told reporters:
He said Zelensky “we need to resign and send someone what we can do business or that he needs to change.”
Hakeem Jeffries, the Democratic minority leader, called Zelensky’s treatment “cary,” adding that “President Vladimir Putin will only blend in further.”
In Ukraine, Zelensky was widely appreciative of what Zelensky held his position for what was an existential war.
“Trump’s administration was very arrogant,” one Kiev man told the BBC. “When I look at Zelensky’s face, I understand that the argument behind the closed door was not so polite.
“They are very rude. They don’t respect the people of Ukrainians. They don’t hide that.”
Oval Office Spat has urged words of support to Zelensky from major European allies, including France.
A spokeswoman for British Prime Minister Kiel’s starmer has acquired the position of mediator between the US and Europe as the Trump administration adopts a more isolated approach to the continent.
She said that Sir Kiel “holds unwavering support for Ukraine and is doing everything she can to find a way to lasting peace.”
Friedrich Merz, who is expected to become Germany’s next prime minister, wrote that he was standing with Ukraine “in an age of good testing,” adding, “do not confuse invaders and victims in this horrifying war.”
“Today, it has become clear that the free world needs a new leader. It is up to Europeans to take this challenge,” said Kaja Karas, head of foreign policy for the EU.
Meanwhile, Russia said Trump and Vance acted with restraint. A foreign ministry spokesperson said it was a miracle that the pair hadn’t bumped into Zelensky.
