US President Donald Trump erupted at Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday, angrily sending the Ukrainian leader out of the White House after an extraordinary Oval Office meltdown because he was “not ready” for peace with Russia.
The stunning row saw European leaders scramble to voice support for Ukraine, its ability to survive Russian invasion thrown further into doubt by the abrupt exit, as Zelensky left without a minerals deal painted as a significant step towards a US-brokered truce.
Instead, an ugly clash blew up in the Oval Office where Trump and Vice President JD Vance shouted at Zelensky, accusing him of not being “thankful” for US help in the three-year war.
Telling Zelensky that without US assistance Ukraine would have been conquered by Russia, Trump said the wartime leader was in no position to negotiate.
“You don’t have the cards right now,” he said. “You’re either going to make a deal or we’re out, and if we’re out, you’ll fight it out and I don’t think it’s going to be pretty.”
Zelensky departed shortly after, with Trump posting on social media that “he can come back when he is ready for peace.”
The minerals deal was not signed and a joint press conference was canceled. US media reported that Zelensky had been told to leave by senior Trump officials.
The president later accused his one-time ally of “overplaying his hand,” saying he wants the fighting to end “immediately” and accusing Zelensky of opposing a ceasefire. Zelensky, for his part, refused to apologize in a later interview with Fox News. Saying he does respect Trump and the American people, he told Fox’s Brett Baier: “I’m not sure that we did something bad.
US allies in Europe — increasingly worried that Trump will force Ukraine to effectively hand victory to Russian President Vladimir Putin — rushed to back Zelensky. “You are not alone,” Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said in a message of solidarity echoed across western Europe.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, fresh off his own visit to the White House, said he had spoken to both Trump and Zelensky by phone following the clash and vowed “unwavering support” for Kyiv. Far-right Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called for a summit “without delay” between the United States, Europe and their allies on Ukraine.
Trump and Vance are “doing Putin’s dirty work,” top US Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer posted. But Russia was delighted with the collapse in relations between Kyiv and Washington.
Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev called Zelensky an “insolent pig” who had received “a proper slap down in the Oval Office.”
“How Trump and Vance held back from hitting that scumbag is a miracle of restraint,” a foreign ministry spokeswoman said.
Trump’s Republican Party echoed the Russians in blaming Zelensky. “I can’t believe most Americans, after what they saw today, would want to be partners with Zelensky,” Senator Lindsey Graham said. Ukraine appeared united behind Zelensky, with its army chief vowing to stand with him while his foreign minister praised his “bravery.
Liberty News’ international correspondent reports that this very high-level meeting between the presidents of two countries is supposed to be very dignified (according to state protocol), formal and hospitality-based and has been happening for ages.
LND/TL
