Trump, Vance castigate Zelenskyy in tense Oval Office meeting

Last Friday, U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky engaged in a heated argument in the Oval Office. This extraordinary dispute, publicly displayed, highlighted the extreme uncertainty surrounding the future of U.S. aid to Kyiv. The argument also further deteriorated U.S.-Ukrainian relations.

According to a White House official who wished to remain anonymous, Trump delivered an unprecedentedly harsh rebuke to Zelensky, leading to an almost immediate rupture in relations between Washington and Kyiv. Trump even threatened to completely abandon support for Ukraine at one point. Following the intense talks, Zelensky and his delegation were told to leave the White House.

Trump and Vice President JD Vance raised their voices, accusing Zelensky of being insufficiently grateful for U.S. support and blaming the embattled leader for hindering the achievement of a peace agreement. Trump stated, "You are not in a good position right now, you are risking World War III." Vance also accused Zelensky of "disrespecting" his American hosts and questioned whether he had said "thank you."

After the meeting, Trump and Zelensky left the Oval Office and went to different rooms. According to a White House official, Trump ordered that the Ukrainian delegation be told to leave. The scheduled joint press conference was canceled, and Zelensky left the White House in a black SUV without signing an agreement on U.S. access to Ukrainian rare earth minerals. Trump posted online that his Ukrainian counterpart was not welcome to visit again until he was "ready to make peace."

Trump had previously publicly expressed hostility towards Zelensky, calling him a dictator. But a day earlier, he seemed to have softened his tone, not repeating his previous criticisms. However, this tense 10-minute exchange in the Oval Office far exceeded any normal diplomatic rift, allowing the division between the two to play out publicly in front of television cameras. It was rare for Trump to appear so angry in public. He said, "Either make a deal, or we pull out. If we pull out, you fight on your own. I don't think it will go well."

Vance played a key role in the meeting, having previously publicly criticized aid to Ukraine on numerous occasions. Trump posted on Truth Social that Zelensky could return to the White House when he was "ready to make peace." He stated that the meeting was very meaningful, and through the emotional exchange, he believed that Zelensky did not want the U.S. involved in peace negotiations because he believed U.S. involvement would give him a greater negotiating advantage. Trump emphasized that he wanted peace, not an advantage, and accused Zelensky of "disrespecting the United States" in the Oval Office.

The breakdown of this meeting brought an end to the hopeful atmosphere at the White House earlier in the week. French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer had previously visited the White House, hoping to pave the way for a security agreement with Ukraine. Trump's meetings with the two European leaders were filled with pleasantries, aimed at preparing for his meeting with Zelensky, but the final result was unexpected by everyone.

Trump's ally, Senator Lindsey Graham, stated that Zelensky "either needs to resign and send someone we can work with, or he needs to change." Graham believed Zelensky's performance in the Oval Office was "disrespectful" and questioned whether it was possible to work with him again. Democratic Senator Jack Reed called the meeting a "political ambush" and a "shameful failure of American leadership," stating that Trump and Vance's behavior damaged America's standing in the world.