Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy left the White House on Friday after his meeting with President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance devolved into a heated argument.
The two countries arranged the meeting as an opportunity for the Ukrainian leader to meet with Trump and finalize a partnership agreement for the United States to gain access to Ukraine’s wealth of natural resources.
Trump has sought to negotiate a quick end to the ongoing Russia–Ukraine war. He has also positioned the deal for access to Ukraine’s natural resources as a way to recoup some of the funds the United States has already contributed to Ukraine’s war effort.
Even before the meeting, Trump and Zelenskyy had clashed over the objectives of the natural resources deal and Trump’s broader efforts to help negotiate a peaceful settlement to the war. Last week, Trump referred to Zelenskyy as a dictator, while Zelenskyy criticized Trump’s efforts to engage Moscow in peace talks.
The United States has been Kyiv’s leading backer since Russian forces marched on Ukraine in 2022, and has allocated more than $174 billion in Ukraine-related expenses. Zelenskyy, meanwhile, has been adamant that a deal for Ukraine’s natural resources should include new U.S. security guarantees for Ukraine.
Trump and Zelenskyy’s conflicting visions became evident as they hashed them out in front of reporters at an Oval Office press engagement. Zelenskyy ultimately left the White House early, and Trump took to his Truth Social platform to declare the Ukrainian leader “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 disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office. He can come back when he is ready for Peace,” Trump wrote.
Zelenskyy Pushes for Arms and Security Guarantees
As he opened up the Oval Office press engagement, Trump acknowledged some of the past friction he’s had with Zelenskyy, stating, “We had a little negotiation spat, but that worked out great.”Trump then pivoted to the deal for Ukraine’s natural resources, saying it would entail a “big commitment from the United States.”
The discussion played out as the two leaders took questions from the press in the Oval Office. Trump pushed to finalize the minerals deal before entertaining further discussions about security guarantees for Ukraine.
Zelenskyy, in turn, repeatedly called for additional military support for Ukraine, including U.S. air defense systems. The Ukrainian leader raised the possibility of Ukraine sharing its drone production licenses in exchange for licenses to produce U.S. air defense systems.
“Even after the war, we need our nation to be calm ... so that’s why we need this air shield,” Zelenskyy said.
Zelenskyy said European nations are also willing to provide their own security guarantees, but said without further U.S. guarantees, those European commitments would not be “as strong as we need.”
Trump indicated he'd be willing to support more arms shipments to Ukraine, and expressed hopes that most of these shipments won’t be needed if a peace deal can be reached with Moscow.
“Hopefully, I won’t have to send very much because, hopefully, we’re going to have it finished,” Trump said.
Zelenskyy Says ‘No Compromises,’ Refuses Cease-fire on Trump’s Terms
Throughout the Oval Office discussion, Zelenskyy indicated his unwillingness to compromise with Russian President Vladimir Putin to reach a cease-fire with Russia. The Ukrainian leader referred to Putin as a “killer and terrorist.”“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.
Zelenskyy pushed back, saying Moscow had violated 25 previous attempts to negotiate a settlement between Russia and Ukraine prior to the 2022 invasion.
“We can’t just speak about cease-fire and speak and speak. It will not work,” the Ukrainian leader said.
Zelenskyy said that Putin began the war, and a peace settlement should follow the principle that he who began the war should pay for the damages.
As the discussions continued, Trump faced questions about whether he was aligning with Putin through his negotiating stance. Trump said he’s not trying to align with either leader and that he couldn’t expect to condemn Putin’s actions and still have productive peace talks with the Russian leader.
“Do you want me to say really terrible things about Putin and then say, ‘Hi Vladimir, how are we doing on the deal?’ That doesn’t work,” Trump said.
Argument Breaks Out as Zelenskyy Confronts Vance, Doubts US Diplomacy
As the discussion continued, Vance defended the Trump administration’s efforts to negotiate a peace settlement.Zelenskyy responded by pointing to past unsuccessful attempts at diplomacy, noting a 2019 cease-fire and prisoner exchange agreement between Russia and Ukraine. Zelenskyy said Russia never lived up to the terms of this agreement.
“What kind of diplomacy, JD, you are speaking about?” Zelenskyy asked.
“I’m talking about the kind of diplomacy that’s going to end the destruction of your country,” Vance replied. “Mr. President, with respect, I think it’s disrespectful for you to come into the Oval Office and try to litigate this in front of the American media.”
After some back and forth between Zelenskyy and Vance about the appropriateness of Zelenskyy’s approach in asking the United States for more help, the Ukrainian president suggested that while the conflict may not immediately be a problem for the United States, “you will feel it in the future.”
Trump, who appeared to take offense to such wording, then interjected.
“You don’t know that,” he said. “Don’t tell us what we’re going to feel. Because you’re in no position to dictate that.”
Trump, Vance Say Zelenskyy Lacks Leverage
As Zelenskyy raised his doubts about the efficacy of diplomacy, Trump again warned that Zelenskyy lacked the leverage to push a tougher negotiating stance.
“You don’t have the cards right now. With us, you start having cards,” Trump said, amid interruptions from Zelenskyy.
“I’m not playing cards. I’m very serious,” the Ukrainian leader interjected.
“You’re gambling with the lives of millions of people. You’re gambling with World War III,” Trump continued. “And what you’re doing is very disrespectful to the country—this country—that’s backed you far more than a lot of people said [it] should have.”
Trump credited Ukrainian forces with continuing to fight in a tough war, and attributed much of that success to U.S. support.
“If you didn’t have our military equipment, this war would have been over in two weeks,” Trump said.
Trump Threatens to Pull US Support If Zelenskyy Doesn’t Make a Deal
As the discussions remained heated, Vance suggested talks should continue behind closed doors, rather than in front of the press.“Let’s go litigate those disagreements rather than trying to fight it out in the American Media when you’re wrong,” Vance told Zelenskyy.
Trump said part of the reason he'd allowed the argument to play out in front of the media for so long was that he felt it was good for the public to see how talks were breaking down.
In one of his last comments before White House staff ushered reporters out of the Oval Office, Trump told Zelenskyy, “Your people are very brave, but you’re either going to make a deal or we’re out.”
“If we’re out, you‘ll fight it out,” Trump continued. “I don’t think it’s going to be very pretty, but you’ll fight it out.”
