Talks between Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy broke down after descending into a shouting match with Trump warning that Zelenskyy was “gambling with World War Three.”
The two held a 45-minute-long press briefing at the Oval Office on Friday ahead of the signing of a framework deal on Ukraine’s natural resources.
The briefing took a tense turn after Zelenskyy responded to a question, saying, “God bless you [U.S.] won’t have a war.”
Trump quickly fired back: “You don’t know that. Don’t tell us what we feel.”
He then accused Zelenskyy of being “very disrespectful,” adding, “You have to be thankful.
“The problem is, I’ve empowered you to be a tough guy, and I don’t think you’d be a tough guy without the United States.
“And your people are very brave. But you’re either going to make a deal or we are out and if we’re out, you’ll fight it out.”
He added: “I don’t think it’s going to be pretty, but you’ll fight it out.”
“But you don’t have the cards but once we sign that deal. You’re in a much better position [with the deal], but you’re not acting at all thankful and that’s not a nice thing. I’ll be honest.”
Vice president JD Vance also weighed in, accusing Zelenskyy of carrying out enforced conscriptions.
He told Zelenskyy: “Right now you guys are going around and forcing conscripts to the frontlines because you have manpower problems, you should be thanking the president [Donald Trump].”
Zelenskyy interjected by asking Vance: “Have you ever been to Ukraine that you can say what problems we have? Yeah, come once.”
Taking to his Truth Social account, Trump then accused Zelenskyy of not being ready for peace.
He wrote: “I have determined that President Zelenskyy 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.”
As he left the premises, he was seen shouting towards cameras on the White House lawn, though his words were unclear and not immediately understandable.
Fox News reported that they were informed by a White House official that “Trump kicked Zelenskyy out of the White House.
A senior U.S. official told Reuters that the cancelled joint news conference could be rescheduled while Zelenskyy remained in Washington.
The official also stated that Trump has not ruled out an agreement, but only after Ukraine is ready to have a constructive conversation.
The briefing took a tense turn after Zelenskyy responded to a question, saying, “God bless you [U.S.] won’t have a war.”
Trump quickly fired back: “You don’t know that. Don’t tell us what we feel.”
He then accused Zelenskyy of being “very disrespectful,” adding, “You have to be thankful.
“The problem is, I’ve empowered you to be a tough guy, and I don’t think you’d be a tough guy without the United States.
“And your people are very brave. But you’re either going to make a deal or we are out and if we’re out, you’ll fight it out.”
He added: “I don’t think it’s going to be pretty, but you’ll fight it out.”
“But you don’t have the cards but once we sign that deal. You’re in a much better position [with the deal], but you’re not acting at all thankful and that’s not a nice thing. I’ll be honest.”
Vice president JD Vance also weighed in, accusing Zelenskyy of carrying out enforced conscriptions.
He told Zelenskyy: “Right now you guys are going around and forcing conscripts to the frontlines because you have manpower problems, you should be thanking the president [Donald Trump].”
Zelenskyy interjected by asking Vance: “Have you ever been to Ukraine that you can say what problems we have? Yeah, come once.”
As the meeting descended into a shouting match Trump brought it to an abrupt end, saying he “thought it was enough.”President Donald J. Trump and Vice President JD Vance put AMERICA FIRST. pic.twitter.com/AkAvzKpcpb
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) February 28, 2025
Taking to his Truth Social account, Trump then accused Zelenskyy of not being ready for peace.
He wrote: “I have determined that President Zelenskyy 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.”
Zelenskyy abruptly left the White House after a joint press conference following the meeting was called off.BREAKING: Trump says Zelenskyy can "He can come back when he’s ready for peace." in a post on Truth Social pic.twitter.com/sqB3lTBQcr
— Hexdline (@HexdlineNews) February 28, 2025
As he left the premises, he was seen shouting towards cameras on the White House lawn, though his words were unclear and not immediately understandable.
Fox News reported that they were informed by a White House official that “Trump kicked Zelenskyy out of the White House.
A senior U.S. official told Reuters that the cancelled joint news conference could be rescheduled while Zelenskyy remained in Washington.
The official also stated that Trump has not ruled out an agreement, but only after Ukraine is ready to have a constructive conversation.
No security guarantee
The agreement negotiated in recent days would open Ukraine’s vast mineral wealth to the United States but does not include explicit American security guarantees for Ukraine, a disappointment for Kyiv. Trump says the presence of Americans in business would serve as a form of guarantee.
How much the deal would be worth to the United States is not spelled out. Trump has said he expects to gain hundreds of billions of dollars. Zelenskyy has said he would not sign an agreement that would put his country in debt for generations.
Ukraine would contribute 50% of “all revenues earned from the future monetization of all relevant Ukrainian Government-owned natural resource assets” to a reconstruction fund jointly owned and managed by the United States and Ukraine, Reuters reported.
The agreement does not specify how the funds would be spent, or identify specific assets it covers, though it says they would include deposits of minerals, oil and natural gas as well as infrastructure such as gas terminals and ports.
Trump has engaged in a long-distance feud with Zelenskyy in recent weeks, criticizing his handling of the war, calling him a “dictator” and urging him to agree to the minerals deal.
How much the deal would be worth to the United States is not spelled out. Trump has said he expects to gain hundreds of billions of dollars. Zelenskyy has said he would not sign an agreement that would put his country in debt for generations.
Ukraine would contribute 50% of “all revenues earned from the future monetization of all relevant Ukrainian Government-owned natural resource assets” to a reconstruction fund jointly owned and managed by the United States and Ukraine, Reuters reported.
The agreement does not specify how the funds would be spent, or identify specific assets it covers, though it says they would include deposits of minerals, oil and natural gas as well as infrastructure such as gas terminals and ports.
Trump has engaged in a long-distance feud with Zelenskyy in recent weeks, criticizing his handling of the war, calling him a “dictator” and urging him to agree to the minerals deal.
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