Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy left the White House on Friday without signing a key minerals agreement after a tense confrontation with U.S. President Donald Trump in the Oval Office. The unexpected fallout from the meeting has raised concerns about its impact on global affairs.
Zelenskyy had been expected to finalize a deal granting the U.S. increased access to Ukraine's rare earth minerals and participate in a joint press conference with Trump. However, plans unraveled after a heated exchange between the leaders, which played out in front of the media.
The implications of the disagreement on the minerals deal remain uncertain. Trump had stressed that the agreement was crucial to repaying the U.S. for over $180 billion in aid sent to Kyiv since the onset of the war. It is also unclear what steps Trump expects Zelenskyy to take to get the deal back on track.
Zelenskyy: Ukraine-US economic deal ready, security unclear
Following the dispute, Trump’s top advisers asked Zelenskyy to leave the White House. The confrontation escalated when Trump accused Zelenskyy of being “disrespectful” and warned, “You’re gambling with World War III.” He criticized the Ukrainian leader for failing to show sufficient gratitude for America’s support.
Trump warns Zelenskyy to quickly negotiate war's end with Russia or risk not having a nation to lead
During the nearly 45-minute meeting, tensions escalated in the final 10 minutes, particularly after Vice President JD Vance confronted Zelenskyy about his skepticism regarding Russia’s commitment to diplomacy. Zelenskyy had highlighted Russia’s repeated violations of ceasefire agreements, arguing that President Vladimir Putin could not be trusted. Trump countered by asserting that Putin had never broken agreements with him.
Vance further criticized Zelenskyy for raising concerns about Putin in front of American media. As Zelenskyy attempted to respond, Trump raised his voice, declaring, “You’re gambling with the lives of millions of people.” He also positioned himself as neutral in the war, claiming that Zelenskyy’s deep distrust of Putin was an obstacle to achieving peace.
Shortly after the meeting, Trump told reporters he sought an “immediate ceasefire” but questioned whether Zelenskyy was truly committed to peace. Meanwhile, Zelenskyy appeared on Fox News, acknowledging that the confrontation was “not good for both sides.” He emphasized that Ukraine could not abruptly change its stance on Russia and insisted that any peace negotiations must come with security guarantees against future Russian aggression.
In a social media post following the meeting, Trump declared that Zelenskyy was “not ready for peace” and had “disrespected the United States” in the Oval Office. He suggested that Zelenskyy could return only when he was prepared to negotiate peace.
Democratic leaders swiftly criticized the administration for the diplomatic breakdown. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer accused Trump and Vance of “doing Putin’s dirty work.” The contentious exchange was particularly striking given Trump’s recent remarks describing U.S. support for Ukraine as a “worthy cause.”
Initially, the meeting had started on a cordial note, with both leaders speaking positively about each other. However, when Zelenskyy raised concerns about trusting Russia, Vance rebuked him for addressing such disagreements publicly. The tone of the conversation quickly shifted, with Trump and Vance portraying Zelenskyy as ungrateful. Trump warned that such an attitude could affect future American support, while Vance urged Zelenskyy to “just say thank you.”
After leaving the White House, Zelenskyy expressed gratitude to the American people on social media, thanking them for their continued support. However, White House officials reportedly viewed his body language and remarks as “hostile.” Trump was particularly displeased when Zelenskyy brought up security guarantees, as Trump had intended to focus solely on the minerals deal.
Former officials noted that while President Joe Biden had also been frustrated with Zelenskyy at times, he had kept such criticisms private—unlike Trump, who made his displeasure public.
At one point during the tense discussion, Trump warned Zelenskyy, “You’re not in a good position. You don’t have the cards right now.” Before the meeting concluded, he remarked, “This is going to be great television.”
As Ukraine continues to resist Russian advances, Kyiv remains determined to secure security guarantees in any potential peace deal. Many Ukrainians fear that a rushed agreement with excessive concessions to Moscow could allow Russia to regroup and launch future offensives.
Trump ally Sen. Lindsey Graham expressed doubt about whether relations between Trump and Zelenskyy could be repaired, saying, “I don’t know if you can ever do a deal with Zelenskyy anymore.”
The contentious meeting also heightened concerns that Trump could negotiate a peace deal favoring Russia. His administration has already engaged in direct talks with Russian officials in Saudi Arabia without inviting European or Ukrainian representatives—an unprecedented move that breaks from past U.S. policy.
Following the Oval Office fallout, European leaders reaffirmed their support for Ukraine. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen praised Zelenskyy’s resilience, stating, “His dignity honors the bravery of the Ukrainian people.” Meanwhile, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni proposed an urgent summit between the U.S. and European allies to discuss the future of Western unity and its approach to the Ukraine crisis.
“A divided West weakens all of us and benefits those who seek our downfall,” Meloni warned.