Donald Trump’s Oval Office meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky descended into a shouting match with the US president abruptly ending the conversation and throwing reporters out.
Mr Trump told the Ukrainian president he was “gambling with World War Three” as their meeting became heated.
The Ukrainian president told Mr Trump the rare earth minerals deal being negotiated by the two leaders was not enough for his country.
Mr Trump in turn accused Mr Zelensky of being “very disrespectful”.
JD Vance, the vice president, intervened, asking Mr Zelensky: “have you said thank you once?” As voices were raised, Mr Trump told the Ukrainian leader that “you have to be thankful”.
“You either make a deal, or we are out,” the president warned.
Mr Trump then abruptly ended the meeting saying he thought it was enough, with the press abruptly ushered out.
he recent Oval Office meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy deteriorated into a heated confrontation, significantly straining U.S.-Ukraine relations.
Initially intended to solidify a minerals agreement granting the U.S. access to Ukraine’s rare earth resources, the discussion quickly escalated when President Trump accused President Zelenskyy of showing insufficient gratitude for American support.
Vice President JD Vance intensified the situation by admonishing Zelenskyy for his perceived lack of appreciation, leading to a tense exchange that disrupted the meeting’s agenda.
The confrontation culminated with President Trump accusing Ukraine of “gambling with World War Three,” suggesting that Ukraine’s actions were jeopardizing global peace efforts.
As a result of the discord, the planned signing of the minerals deal was aborted, and a scheduled joint press conference was canceled.
President Zelenskyy departed the White House without securing the agreement, leaving the future of U.S.-Ukraine cooperation uncertain.
In the aftermath, European leaders have expressed support for President Zelenskyy, emphasizing their commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and security.
Conversely, Russian officials have welcomed the discord, viewing it as advantageous to their interests amid the ongoing conflict.
The incident underscores the complexities of international diplomacy and raises concerns about the stability of alliances in addressing global security challenges.
Moving forward, the breakdown of this high-level dialogue may necessitate renewed diplomatic efforts to restore cooperation and support for Ukraine’s defense and economic resilience.