In a dramatic Oval Office confrontation, US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky publicly clashed over the future of Ukraine’s war with Russia. The tense exchange highlighted deep divisions, with Trump urging compromise and Zelensky refusing to negotiate with Putin.
During their highly anticipated meeting at the White House, Trump berated Zelensky, insisting he should be more “thankful” and warning that Ukraine could not dictate US policy.
- Trump’s stance: Ukraine must “make a deal” with Russia or risk losing US support.
- Zelensky’s response: No compromises with a “killer” who has invaded Ukraine.
Vice President JD Vance backed Trump, calling Zelensky “disrespectful”. When the Ukrainian leader attempted to respond, Trump cut him off.
WATCH: ‘extremely HEATED’ exchange in White House between Zelensky, Trump and Vance
Trump: ‘You’re NOT winning this. You have to be THANKFUL’
Trump later SHUT Zelensky DOWN as he was speaking : ‘You’ve done a lot of talking’ pic.twitter.com/YYvazzew1x
— RT (@RT_com) February 28, 2025Trump Pushes for Truce Despite Ukraine’s Resistance
Trump, who has spoken with Putin multiple times, insisted that a truce was “fairly close” and emphasized that any peace agreement must involve compromise.
“You can’t do any deals without compromises. Hopefully, they won’t be as big as some people think,” Trump stated.
However, Zelensky pushed back, showing images of Russian war crimes and accusing Putin of deporting Ukrainian children and committing atrocities.
#UPDATE US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky clashed in an extraordinary shouting match in the Oval Office Friday, leaving efforts to end the war with Russia hanging in the balance @dannyctkemp https://t.co/yeXoDFcfvM pic.twitter.com/5yKE1sgGgV
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) February 28, 2025“There should be no compromises with a killer on our territory,” he said.
A Shift in US-Ukraine Relations?
Trump’s shift in US policy has alarmed Kyiv and European allies. He is moving away from full US backing for Ukraine’s military efforts and is positioning himself as a mediator between Putin and Zelensky.
Additionally, Trump revealed that he is finalizing a deal with Ukraine to allow US access to Ukraine’s natural resources, particularly rare earth minerals, as part of an economic recovery plan post-truce.
As the tense meeting concluded, Zelensky invited Trump to visit Ukraine, urging him to witness the war’s destruction firsthand.
“You have to come and look,” Zelensky told Trump.
With global tensions rising, the outcome of this dispute could significantly impact the future of US-Ukraine relations and the course of the Russia-Ukraine war.
