Updated February 28, 2025 at 15:13 PM ET
A potential deal between the United States and Ukraine intended to pave the way for an end to the war with Russia was up in the air Friday, after a meeting between President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office on Friday grew contentious.
Trump told Zelenskyy, "You're not acting at all thankful" for the support Zelenskyy's country had received from the United States, adding that the Ukrainian leader had been disrespectful and telling him, "You're gambling with World War III."
Zelenskyy tried to object, saying he has "all the respect for your country" and saying, "I said thanks," as Trump raised his voice to speak over him.
A scheduled news conference between the two men was subsequently canceled. Zelenskyy left the White House but didn't take questions.
Zelenskyy came to Washington expecting to sign a deal that would give the United States access to Ukrainian rare earth and critical minerals. But the heated session — with raised voices and cross-talk playing out in front of TV cameras — left the future of the negotiations uncertain.
The argument came at the end of a lengthy question-and-answer session with reporters, after Trump defended his approach with Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying he was trying to broker a deal between two parties.
"I'm not aligned with anybody. I'm aligned with the United States of America, and for the good of the world, I'm aligned with the world, and I want to get this thing over with," Trump said.
Vice President Vance then defended Trump's approach as "diplomacy."
That elicited a strong response from Zelenskyy, who said Putin had broken previous deals. "He broke the ceasefire, he killed our people ... what kind of diplomacy, JD, you are speaking about? What do you mean?" said Ukraine's president, who has been seeking greater security assurances as part of any deal to end the war.
Vance accused Zelenskyy of trying to "litigate this in front of the American media," accusing him of running propaganda tours and campaigning for Democrats in Pennsylvania during the election and being ungrateful.
Zelenskyy asked, "Have you ever been to Ukraine? Have you seen the problems we have? Come once."
"Offer some words of appreciation for the United States of America and the president who's trying to save your country, please," Vance said.
"During the war, everybody has problems, even you. But you have nice ocean and don't feel now. But you will feel it in the future. God bless, you will not have war," Zelenskyy said with his arms crossed. President Trump interjected by saying, "Don't tell us what we're gonna feel. We're trying to solve a problem."
As the two leaders raised their voices, each trying to speak over the other, Zelenskyy said, "You will feel influence."
In a social media post after the heated meeting, Trump said he had "determined that President Zelenskyy is not ready for peace."
Zelenskyy later posted on X, "Ukraine needs just and lasting peace, and we are working exactly for that."
This is a developing story, which may be updated.
Asma Khalid contributed reporting from Washington, D.C.
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