WASHINGTON—Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was asked to leave the White House on Feb. 28 following a tense meeting with President Donald Trump, according to a White House official.
The meeting escalated after Zelenskyy was accused of being disrespectful and failing to show gratitude for Trump’s efforts to end the war in Ukraine.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz informed Zelenskyy that Trump and Vice President JD Vance no longer wished to continue the meeting, the official said.
In a statement following the meeting, Trump said Zelenskyy is not yet ready for peace with Russia, adding that the Ukrainian president could return when he is prepared to engage in peace talks.
“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.”
Zelenskyy’s highly anticipated meeting with Trump was scheduled at the White House, where both sides were expected to sign a minerals agreement to allow the United States access to the Eastern European country’s rare earth minerals in return for U.S. aid.
Before the meeting, the Trump administration announced that a deal on minerals had been finalized. Trump said during his meeting with Zelenskyy that the agreement would be signed in the White House’s East Room after the lunch meeting.
During their bilateral meeting, both leaders took questions from the media, during which their differing expectations on security commitments became clear.
The meeting in the Oval Office quickly escalated into a heated argument after both Trump and Vice President JD Vance took issue with Zelenkyy’s public insistence for security guarantees.
Zelenskyy said that he would not accept a cease-fire without security guarantees from the United States.
He argued that Russian President Vladimir Putin had broken cease-fire 25 times. He then asked Vance “what kind of diplomacy” he was talking about.
Vance, responding to Zelenskyy said: “It’s disrespectful for you to come to the Oval Office to try to litigate this in front of the American media.
“Right now, you guys are going around and forcing conscripts to the front lines because you have manpower problems.”
He then accused the Ukrainian leader of failing to show gratitude for U.S. assistance.
Trump also waded into the argument, warning Zelenskyy that he was in a tough spot in the negotiations and was risking losing U.S. support entirely.
“You don’t have the cards right now. With us, you’re starting to have cards,” Trump said, referring to U.S involvement in the peace deal.
“You’re gambling with the lives of millions of people. You’re gambling with World War three,” Trump said as Zelenskyy continued talking back.
During much of the meeting in the Oval Office, Zelenskyy appeared to shrug and roll his eyes at what Trump was saying.
Vance tried to bring the argument to a close by stating: “There are disagreements, and let’s go litigate those disagreements, rather than trying to fight it in front of the American media when you’re wrong. We know that you’re wrong.”
“Once we sign that deal, you’re in a much better position, but you’re not acting at all thankful,” Trump said before ending the meeting. “And that’s not a nice thing. I'll be honest. That’s not a nice thing, all right, I think we’ve seen enough.”
Zelenskyy left the meeting earlier than planned. The White House canceled a press conference that was scheduled after the lunch meeting.
The Ukrainian president was set to deliver remarks and take part in a fireside chat at the Hudson Institute following his meeting with Trump, but that event was also canceled.
