Volodymyr Zelensky was kicked out of the White House without signing the minerals deal with Donald Trump after an angry bust-up between the two leaders in the Oval Office.
The Ukrainian president’s early departure on Friday afternoon came after Trump cut short talks over the deal and shouted at Ukraine‘s leader during an extraordinary meeting, berating him for “gambling with millions of lives” and suggesting his actions could trigger World War Three.
The two leaders were meant to have a bilateral meeting behind closed doors after their Oval Office talks but the Ukrainian president was told to leave the White House after falling out with the US president in front of reporters.
A press conference where both leaders were going to sign the minerals deal was cancelled.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said Mr Zelensky had been “disrespectful”.
He wrote: “I have determined that President Zelensky is not ready for Peace if America is involved, because he feels our involvement gives him a big advantage in negotiations.
“I don’t want advantage, I want PEACE. He can come back when he is ready for peace,” he added.
Mr Zelensky in a post on X said:”Thank you America, thank you for your support, thank you for this visit.”
“Thank you @POTUS, Congress, and the American people. Ukraine needs just and lasting peace, and we are working exactly for that.”
Talks began cordially in the Oval Office but exchanges became heated as Mr Vance criticised Mr Zelensky for not being grateful for US support.
Voices were raised in the meeting
AFP via Getty Images
“Have you said thank you once?”Mr Vance asked the Ukrainian leader after accusing him of being “disrespectful”.
Mr Vance said it was “disrespectful for Mr Zelensky to come into the Oval Office, litigating in front of the American media”.
Mr Zelensky tried to object, prompting Trump to raise his voice and say: “You’re gambling with the lives of millions of people.”
“You’re gambling with World War Three, and what you’re doing is very disrespectful to the country, this country that’s backed you far more than a lot of people say they should have,” the US president said.
Mr Zelensky warned the US would “feel it in the future” if it did not continue to support Ukraine.
“Don’t tell us what we’re going to feel. We’re trying to solve a problem,” Mr Trump hit back.
It was an astonishing display of open antagonism in the Oval Office, a setting better known for sombre diplomacy.
Zelensky leaves the White House after the row
Getty Images
Trump warned Mr Zelensky that Ukraine had to make a deal with the United States or Washington would end its aid support.
“Your people are very brave, but you’re either going to make a deal or we’re out, and if we’re out, you’ll fight it out,” Trump said in a dramatic verbal clash.
“I don’t think it’s going to be pretty, but you’ll fight it out, but you don’t have the cards.”
Ukraine‘s leader was at the White House for crucial talks with the US President over ending the war and to sign a landmark minerals deal – but what is now happening with the deal remains unclear. The economic agreement with the US is aimed at financing the reconstruction of war-damaged Ukraine through mining Ukraine’s rare metal deposits, a deal that would closely tie the two countries together for years to come. It remains unsigned after the diplomatic row.
Speaking earlier to reporters as he sat down with Mr Zelensky in the Oval Office, Trump confirmed the minerals deal with Ukraine would be signed and he said “we have something that is a very fair deal”. “It is a big commitment from the US,” he added.
Mr Zelensky said he hoped “this document will be a step forward for Ukraine” and he wanted to discuss what the US is “ready to do”.
The men earlier shook hands when Mr Zelensky arrived at the White House
AP
But where the deal now stands after the bust-up remains to be seen.
As Ukrainian forces hold out against slow but steady advances by Russia‘s larger and better-equipped army, leaders in Kyiv had hoped to push to ensure a potential US-brokered peace plan would include guarantees for the country’s future security.
Mr Zelensky had shaken hands with the US president on his arrival at the White House and there was optimism about a break-through in relations between two men.
Mr Zelensky had planned to try to convince the White House to provide some form of US backing for Ukraine’s security against any future Russian aggression.
Trump called the minerals deal “a big commitment from the United States” and he said the US wants to see the killing in the war stopped, adding that US money for Ukraine should be “put to different kinds of use like rebuilding”.
Earlier, Mr Zelensky called Russian President Vladimir Putin a terrorist and told Trump that Ukraine and the world need “no compromises with a killer”.
“Even during the war there are rules,” he said.
After the meeting, French President Emmanuel Macron said he believes “we all were right to have helped Ukraine and sanctioned Russia three years ago, and to continue to do so”.
“There’s an aggressor, which is Russia, and a people attacked, which is Ukraine,” Mr Macron told reporters during a state visit to Portugal.
The pair had posed for pictures before going into the White House to start talks
REUTERS
He added: “We must thank all those who helped and respect those who have been fighting since the beginning.”
Many Ukrainians fear that a hastily negotiated peace – especially one that makes too many concessions to Russian demands – would allow Moscow to rearm and consolidate its forces for a future invasion after current hostilities cease.
Mr Zelensky is due to meet Sir Keir Starmer on Sunday in Downing Street at a summit of European leaders on Ukraine.
Sir Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron are ready to put a peacekeeping force into Ukraine if a peace deal is reached and they are hoping to persuade other leaders to pledge support.
But Mr Starmer and others are trying to make the case that the plan can only work with a US backstop for European forces on the ground – through US aerial intelligence, surveillance and support, as well as rapid-response cover in case the truce is breached.
Mr Zelensky has been vague on exactly what kinds of security guarantees would be suitable for his country, and while he continues to advocate for Ukraine’s eventual membership in Nato, he has also suggested a similar security arrangement would suffice.
But Trump on Wednesday said Ukraine “could forget about” joining the Western military alliance.
