Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy clash in heated meeting at the White House about war in Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy cut short his visit to the United States after a heated verbal clash with U.S. President Donald Trump in the Oval Office at the White House, failing to reach a critical minerals agreement with the U.S. He was originally expected to sign the agreement during his visit to Washington, but the talks were shortened due to intense arguments with Trump and his Vice President, JD Vance.

Zelenskyy has insisted that any peace agreement with Russia should include U.S. security guarantees for Ukraine. Trump accused Zelenskyy of "risking World War III" and said he had "no leverage" without U.S. support, also accusing the Ukrainian leader of "disrespect." Zelenskyy traveled to Washington, D.C. to discuss the minerals agreement, while Trump sought to broker a deal to end the war in Ukraine.

During the nearly 45-minute meeting at the White House, the last 10 minutes devolved into a shouting match between the two leaders. What was supposed to be an important step towards peace instead saw the world watching as relations between the two countries unraveled in less than an hour, leaving Ukraine's future hanging in the balance. The argument was triggered by Zelenskyy stating that Russian President Vladimir Putin had violated previous agreements regarding attacks on Ukraine. The Ukrainian president told Trump that Putin's promises of peace could not be trusted.

U.S. Vice President JD Vance stated, "The reason America is a great nation is because America engages in diplomacy. That's what President Trump is doing." Zelenskyy challenged this, saying, "Putin broke a ceasefire agreement. JD, what kind of diplomacy are you talking about?" Vance replied, "I think coming to the Oval Office and trying to argue about this in front of the American media is disrespectful."

Subsequently, Zelenskyy and Trump repeatedly shouted at each other, with Trump telling the Ukrainian president that he was losing the war, adding, "People are dying, your soldiers are dwindling." Trump told Zelenskyy that he was in a bad position and that Ukraine was in "big trouble." "You should be more grateful," Trump told Zelenskyy, adding that the Ukrainian leader was "risking World War III." Zelenskyy said, "I have thanked the American people many times." After leaving the White House, he posted on X, "Thank you America, thank you for your support, thank you for this visit."

In a confrontation with reporters, Trump threatened to withdraw U.S. support. "You either make a deal, or we pull out, and if we pull out, you're on your own. I don't think it's going to get any better," Trump said. "You have no leverage. Once we sign the deal, you're in a much better position. But you're not acting very grateful, and that's not a good thing. I tell you truthfully, that's not a good thing." Zelenskyy openly challenged the U.S. president's more lenient stance towards Russian President Vladimir Putin, urging him "not to compromise with murderers." He also showed the U.S. president photos of Ukrainians allegedly abused by Russians.

Following the meeting, Trump posted on his social media platform, Truth Social. "I have determined that President Zelenskyy is not ready to make peace if the United States is involved, because he thinks our involvement gives him great leverage in negotiations. I don't need leverage, I need peace. He disrespected the United States of America in our treasured Oval Office. When he's ready to make peace, he can come back," Trump wrote. The scheduled leaders' press conference was canceled after the verbal clash. The Ukrainian leader also canceled various other speaking engagements he had planned during his time in Washington.

According to a White House official, after the meeting, Trump instructed two senior aides to tell Zelenskyy to leave, even as waiters were preparing to serve lunch to the delegation. The official added that despite the Ukrainians' desire to continue the talks, they were instructed to leave. Ten days before this unprecedented diplomatic breakdown, Trump called the Ukrainian leader a "dictator," after Zelenskyy accused the U.S. president of living in a "false information space." Trump later told reporters as he left the White House that Zelenskyy needed to realize he was losing the war.

"What he needs to say is, 'I want to make peace.' He doesn't have to stand there and say 'Putin this, Putin that,' all negative things. He needs to say, 'I want to make peace.' I don't want to fight the war anymore," Trump said. Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev seemed pleased by the scene, writing on Telegram that the Ukrainian leader had received a "brutal dressing down." Asked in an interview with Fox News whether his relationship with Trump could be salvaged after Friday's clash, Zelenskyy said "Yes, of course," and appeared to express some regret, adding "I'm sorry."

The head of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Oleksandr Syrskyi, issued a statement on Telegram confirming that his forces support Zelenskyy, and that Ukraine's strength lies in unity. European leaders have rallied to Zelenskyy's defense. German Chancellor candidate Friedrich Merz stated, "We must not confuse the aggressor and the victim in this terrible war." An official in the Ukrainian delegation in Washington told Reuters that Zelenskyy had spoken by phone with French President Emmanuel Macron, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, and European Council President Antonio Costa.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in a statement, "We stand with Ukraine." "Of course, we want to see peace in Ukraine, and that's what the Ukrainian people want as well," he said. "I'll tell you how you get peace in Ukraine quickly, and that is Russia ceases its illegal and immoral invasion, Russia ceases its attacks on civilians, on civilian infrastructure, ceases the acts of aggression that they have now been undertaking for three years."

Anxious Ukrainians far away are mostly united around their leader, but also worried about the continued flow of U.S. military aid that the country has been relying on. The UK will host a meeting of European leaders with Zelenskyy on Sunday to discuss security guarantees for any peace deal between Moscow and Kyiv.