Washington, DC [US]: Former US President Donald Trump accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of “disrespecting America” following a tense meeting in the Oval Office. Trump made the statement in a post on Truth Social just minutes after their confrontation.
“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,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
The meeting, initially planned to finalize a framework agreement on mineral extraction, ended in a heated exchange between Trump, Zelenskyy, and Vice President JD Vance. White House officials, journalists, and Ukrainian delegates witnessed the verbal clash.
Shortly after Trump’s post, the White House press pool confirmed that a scheduled joint press conference had been canceled. A visibly serious Zelenskyy left the West Wing two hours and 20 minutes after his arrival.
Tense Exchange in the Oval Office
The meeting began with cordial greetings and handshakes, with Trump initially stating, “I think he’s a great guy.” However, tensions escalated when Zelenskyy tried to explain Russian President Vladimir Putin’s diplomatic failures to Vance.
In a fiery exchange, Vance accused Zelenskyy of “litigating” in front of the global media, criticizing him for taking part in photo-ops with Democrats during the 2024 campaign, and calling his remarks “disrespectful” to the administration.
Trump then raised his voice, calling Zelenskyy “disrespectful” and emphasizing that Ukraine should be grateful for US support. “You don’t have the cards,” he told Zelenskyy.
“You are either going to make a deal or we’re out, and if we are out, you will fight it out. I don’t think it’s going to be pretty,” Trump warned.
The leaders had been expected to sign an agreement establishing a joint US-Ukraine fund to invest in Ukraine’s rare-earth mineral extraction. These minerals are crucial for manufacturing various technology products. However, the fallout from the meeting left the future of the deal uncertain.