United States President Donald Trump and his Vice President, Vance, on Friday, called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, “disrespectful” during a meeting at the White House.
The Ukrainian President Zelenskyy abruptly departed the White House, cutting short his scheduled visit following a tense and heated exchange with Trump and Vance.
The confrontation, which unfolded in the Oval Office, led to the cancellation of a planned joint press conference between Trump and Zelenskyy. While the circumstances surrounding Zelenskyy’s early departure remained unclear, White House officials have not confirmed whether he left voluntarily or at Trump’s request.
Asked about the contentious meeting, a senior administration official deflected, telling NBC News, “Ask Zelenskyy if it was intentional.” Another White House source offered a more direct assessment, stating, “America First happened.”
Following the heated discussion, Trump took to Truth Social to characterise the meeting as “meaningful” but suggested that Zelenskyy’s stance on US involvement in peace negotiations with Russia was a sticking point.
“Much was learned that could never be understood without conversation under such fire and pressure,” Trump wrote. “It’s amazing what comes out through emotion, and 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.”
Trump continued, “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 tensions ran high, a reporter pressed Trump on the potential consequences if Russia were to violate a ceasefire agreement.
“What if they — what if anything? What if a bomb drops on your head right now?” Trump responded. “OK, what have they broken? I don’t know. They broke it with [former President Joe] Biden, because Biden didn’t respect him. They didn’t respect [former President Barack] Obama. They respect me.”
Trump then pivoted to denouncing past investigations into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.
“Let me tell you, Putin went through a hell of a lot with me. He went through a phony witch hunt where they used him and Russia, Russia, Russia,” Trump told reporters.
Beyond the fiery rhetoric, the White House meeting was also expected to focus on a potential U.S.-Ukraine agreement regarding rare-earth minerals—critical materials used in high-tech industries. While both nations seemed close to finalizing the deal, Zelenskyy had made it clear that any agreement must prioritize Ukraine’s long-term security needs alongside U.S. economic interests.
“The deal will fail if it does not adequately provide for Ukraine’s future security against Russia and only looked after American interests,” Zelenskyy had warned ahead of the meeting.
Meanwhile, domestic policy decisions continue to unfold. Chief Justice John Roberts has temporarily paused a lower court ruling that ordered the Trump administration to release foreign aid funds that had been frozen. Briefings on the matter are due at the Supreme Court by noon.
In a separate move, Trump is expected to sign an executive order declaring English the official language of the United States—a move that would mark a historic shift in national policy.
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