In a dramatic Oval Office clash, former President Donald Trump abruptly ended a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, blasting him as “disrespectful” and declaring that Ukraine is “not ready” for peace with Russia. The fiery exchange, which derailed a planned US-Ukraine minerals deal, has cast doubt over the possibility of a US-brokered truce.
Oval Office Erupts in Chaos
Zelensky arrived at the White House expecting to sign a landmark deal for joint exploitation of Ukraine’s mineral resources as part of a post-war recovery effort. However, the meeting quickly took a turn for the worse when Trump, alongside Vice President JD Vance, accused Zelensky of not showing enough gratitude for US military and financial aid during the three-year war against Russia.
“You’re either going to make a deal or we’re out,” Trump reportedly told Zelensky. “And if we’re out, you’ll fight it out, and I don’t think it’s going to be pretty.”
The heated confrontation ended with Zelensky leaving in his motorcade without holding a planned joint press conference. The White House later confirmed that the minerals deal was left unsigned.
Trump Unleashes on Truth Social
Wasting no time, Trump took to his Truth Social platform to lash out at Zelensky, writing that he “disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office.”
“Zelensky is NOT ready for Peace,” Trump posted. “He can come back when he is ready for Peace.”
Clash Over ‘Compromise’ With Russia
The breakdown comes after Trump suggested Ukraine must make “compromises” in a truce with Russia, which has occupied swaths of Ukrainian territory and left entire cities in ruins.
“You can’t do any deals without compromises. So certainly, he’s going to have to make some compromises, but hopefully, they won’t be as big as some people think,” Trump said.
Zelensky, however, pushed back hard, showing Trump images of war atrocities and stating, “No compromises with a killer on our territory.” He further condemned Russia’s war crimes, including the deportation of Ukrainian children.
Fallout and Global Reaction
The explosive meeting has raised fresh doubts about Trump’s role as a mediator in the war. European leaders, including those from France and Britain, had recently visited the White House to urge Trump to stand firm in support of Ukraine rather than lean toward Russian interests.
Following the clash, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk reassured Zelensky, saying, “You are not alone.” Meanwhile, US Senate Democrats accused Trump and Vance of siding with Putin.
“They are doing Putin’s dirty work,” said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. Senator Chris Van Hollen called the meeting “disgraceful.”
Despite the turmoil, Trump insisted that a ceasefire was “fairly close” and that the minerals deal, which could bring financial benefits to Washington, was “very fair.” However, his repeated refusal to commit US military force as a peacekeeping presence has left European allies uneasy.
Trump’s Mixed Messaging on Zelensky
Trump’s stance on Zelensky has been erratic. Last week, he referred to the Ukrainian leader as a “dictator” and echoed Kremlin talking points about the origins of the war. Yet, during a joint press conference with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Thursday, Trump stated, “I have a lot of respect for him” and added, “We’re going to get along really well.”
Trump has also repeatedly praised Putin, saying this week that he trusts the Russian leader to “keep his word” in any ceasefire agreement.
War Rages On
As tensions between Washington and Moscow escalate, Russia continues its military assault on Ukraine. On Friday, Russian infantry launched a new offensive near the Ukrainian border in the Kursk region, an area partially reclaimed by Ukrainian forces last summer.
With the US role in Ukraine’s defense increasingly uncertain under Trump’s approach, the war remains as volatile as ever.
