What was supposed to be a standard diplomatic meeting quickly turned into a dramatic clash, as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and U.S. President Donald Trump engaged in a rare shouting match in the White House on Friday, February 28.
Zelensky traveled to Washington to finalize an anticipated U.S.-Ukraine deal granting American firms greater access to Ukraine’s rare earth minerals. The meeting began with cordial formalities, but tensions erupted in the Oval Office after Zelensky questioned what would happen if Russia’s President Vladimir Putin were to break a ceasefire.
With cameras rolling, Trump lashed out, telling Zelensky he needed to be “more thankful” for American support. “You’re gambling with World War III, and what you’re doing is very disrespectful to the country, this country that’s backed you far more than a lot of people say they should have,” Trump told the Ukrainian leader.
Vice President J.D. Vance echoed Trump’s stance, criticizing Zelensky for challenging U.S. policy in front of American media. The discussion quickly spiraled into a heated exchange, with the three men repeatedly interrupting each other and talking over one another.
The confrontation reached a boiling point. Zelensky abruptly left the White House early and a scheduled joint press conference with Trump was scrapped. As a result, the mineral deal remained unsigned.
Shortly after, Trump released a statement saying Zelensky had “disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office” and “can come back when he is ready for Peace.”
The fallout from the confrontation is expected to accelerate Washington’s scrutiny of U.S. aid to Ukraine. A senior U.S. official told Reuters that the White House would now push forward investigations into potential waste, fraud, and abuse involving billions of dollars in U.S. assistance to Kyiv.
With reporting by news agencies
