3 hours ago
Last Updated:March 01, 2025, 01:28 IST
President Donald Trump slammed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for being “disrespectful” during a tense Oval Office meeting on Friday.
US President Donald Trump meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy at the White House in Washington, February 28, 2025. (Reuters)
A tense Oval Office meeting on Friday, aimed at securing Ukraine’s agreement to share mining resources with the U.S., erupted into a heated confrontation between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. What was meant to be a diplomatic discussion soon escalated as Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance pushed Zelensky to show more gratitude for U.S. support and to agree to a ceasefire with Russia, even without firm security guarantees from the U.S.
During the exchange, Trump told Zelensky, “You don’t have the cards right now," as the two leaders interrupted each other forcefully in front of TV cameras. Zelensky, however, stood his ground, stating, “We’re not playing cards." He said that Russian President Vladimir Putin could not be trusted, citing multiple violations of ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreements.
Vance told Zelenskyy that Ukraine was suffering from manpower and military recruiting problems, to which, the latter said that war means “everybody has problems, even you" and that the U.S. would feel the war “in the future."
“Don’t tell us what we’re going to feel," Trump responded. “We’re trying to solve a problem. Don’t tell us what we’re going to feel." “You are in no position to dictate that, remember that," Trump said.
As the confrontation grew more intense, Trump’s voice became sharper, warning Zelensky, “You’re gambling with the lives of millions of people. You’re gambling with World War III." The two leaders’ escalating frustration was on full display in the Oval Office, a rare sight during such high-level negotiations.
Typically, tough diplomatic talks take place behind closed doors, but the tensions between Trump and Zelensky were openly visible to the media. The impasse reached a boiling point when Trump abruptly cut off negotiations. He later took to Truth Social to express his displeasure, writing, “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 Truth Social post Friday. “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."
Location :Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)
First Published:March 01, 2025, 01:12 IST
News world Zelenskyy 'Kicked Out' Of White House After Heated Exchange With Trump: 'You're In No Position To Dictate'
