Trump shouts at Zelenskyy as Oval Office meeting descends into chaos
US President Donald Trump told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that he is “gambling with World War Three” in a series of tense exchanges at a press conference at the White House.
Zelenskyy’s meeting with Trump comes as he is expected to sign a landmark economic agreement on Friday that would provide the US with access to Ukraine’s mineral resources in exchange for investment.
When taking questions from reporters at the Oval Office, Trump and Zelenskyy had a heated exchange, in which the Ukrainian president was told that he either “makes a deal” or the US are out.
Trump repeatedly said that Zelenskyy “does not hold the cards” and that once they sign the minerals deal, Ukraine will be in a “better position”.
US Vice President JD Vance called Zelenskyy “disrespectful”, saying he should be “thankful” to the US president who is “trying to save your country”.
Vance also questioned whether Zelenskyy had said thank you during the meeting, to which Zelenskyy responded by saying he had said “thank you a lot of times”.
Trump added that he was in the “middle” and that he was “for both Ukraine and Russia”, also revealing that he had spoken with Russian President Vladimir Putin a “couple of days ago” and that he “wants to make a deal”.
He added that he was “not aligned with Putin”, and instead was aligned “with the world” and Europe.
Speaking about the minerals deal, Trump said it was “very fair” and that it was a “big commitment from the US”, adding that the resources from the rare earth minerals will support uses in the US including artificial intelligence and military weapons.
Meanwhile, Zelenskyy called Putin a killer and a terrorist and told Trump there should be “no compromises” with him.
The Ukrainian president also brought along printed photos of Ukraine’s prisoners of war to show Trump, and gently disagreed when Trump repeated his claim that Europe “did much less” than the United States to support Ukraine against Russia.
At the beginning of the press conference, the leaders had exchanged appreciations and gratitude for each other.
The deal between Ukraine and the US may also include security guarantees for Kyiv, as Zelenskyy will be hoping to persuade Trump to provide US backing for Ukraine’s security against any future Russian aggression.
However, when speaking on Friday, Trump said “let me make the deal first” and to not “worry about security right now”.
It will also be aimed at financing the reconstruction of Ukraine after three years of war with Russia.
But many Ukrainians fear that a hastily negotiated peace, especially one that makes too many concessions for Russia, would allow Moscow to rearm and consolidate its forces for a future invasion.
Trump has framed the deal as a chance for Kyiv to compensate the US for wartime aid sent under former President Joe Biden.
Chairing his first cabinet meeting on Wednesday, President Trump said his administration will be “making a deal where we are going to get our money back, and a lot of money in the future.”
“The deal brings us great wealth. We get the money back we spent, and we hope we’ll be able to settle [the war] up. We want to settle it.”
But Zelenskyy has stressed that specific assurances for Ukraine’s security must accompany any agreement giving the US access to Ukraine’s resources.
On Wednesday, he said the agreement “may be part of future security guarantees, but I want to understand the broader vision. What awaits Ukraine?”
But Trump remains noncommittal about any American security guarantees.
“I’m not going to make security guarantees beyond very much,” he said on Wednesday, “We’re going to get Europe to do that. It’s their next-door neighbour.”
If a truce can be reached, the UK and France have agreed to send troops for a potential peacekeeping mission to Ukraine, to ensure fighting does not flare up again.
Both Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron travelled to Washington this week before Zelenskyy, to discuss their concerns about the war with President Trump.
But Starmer and other European leaders have called for a US backstop for European forces on the ground, providing support through US aerial intelligence, surveillance and support, as well as rapid-response cover in case the truce is breached.
“You’ve created a moment of tremendous opportunity to reach a historic peace deal – a deal that I think would be celebrated in Ukraine and around the world,” Starmer told Trump at their meeting on Thursday.
“That is the prize. But we have to get it right,” he said.
Zelenskyy’s meeting with Trump, their first since the US leader’s inauguration in January, is seen in Kyiv as a diplomatic win to Ukraine.
On Wednesday, Zelenskyy said being able to meet personally with Trump before Russian President Vladimir Putin is “a good signal”.
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