A high-stakes meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US President Donald Trump deteriorated into a heated confrontation Friday, raising doubts about future American support for Ukraine.
The Oval Office encounter, which included Vice President JD Vance, began awkwardly with Trump commenting on Zelenskyy’s attire. Tensions quickly escalated over a proposed minerals deal that would grant the US access to Ukraine’s rare earths as repayment for military aid.
The situation worsened when Trump highlighted his relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin and suggested Zelenskyy’s animosity toward Putin was impeding peace. The exchange became openly hostile when Vance accused Zelenskyy of being “disrespectful,” asking if he had said “thank you” for US assistance.
The meeting ended prematurely with the Ukrainian delegation escorted out. An anonymous White House official told Reuters that Trump is no longer interested in pursuing the minerals agreement, and claimed the Ukrainian delegation “begged” to sign it before leaving.
Following the confrontation, Zelenskyy thanked “Trump, Congress, and the American people” on social media. In a Fox News interview, he declined to apologize but expressed regret over the public dispute, stating: “I cannot change the Ukrainian attitude to Russia. They are killers for us.” When asked if relations with Trump could be repaired, he answered “of course.”
Trump administration officials strongly criticized Zelenskyy, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who called the meeting a “fiasco” and questioned Zelenskyy’s commitment to peace. Senator Lindsey Graham described it as an “utter disaster” and suggested Ukraine might need new leadership.
Democratic leaders defended Zelenskyy, with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer accusing Trump of doing Putin’s “dirty work” and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries calling the exchange “appalling.”
Internationally, Russia’s Foreign Ministry disparaged Zelenskyy while Hungary’s Viktor Orban praised Trump for standing “bravely for peace.” Several Western nations expressed support for Ukraine, with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau affirming his country “will continue to stand with Ukraine” and Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store calling the exchange “serious and disheartening.”
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