Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky has been asked to leave the White House early without signing an agreement granting the US rights to the country’s natural resources or holding the planned joint press conference.
The meeting between Zelensky and US President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance quickly devolved into an openly hostile confrontation during which the US head of state accused Zelensky of ungratefulness and unwillingness to negotiate an end to the Ukraine conflict.
The idea of a deal involving Ukraine’s rare-earths was initially floated by Zelensky last autumn, and the US president took him up on the offer earlier this month. There had been some back-and-forth over the past few weeks, as the Ukrainian leader attempted to secure more favorable terms. It was expected that the two leaders would sign a version of the accord on Friday.
Despite the fact that the Ukrainian government reviewed and greenlighted the agreement on Wednesday, the deal has apparently been left in limbo after the fiery exchange at the White House on Friday.
The meeting turned sour when Trump told Zelensky he had to negotiate peace with Russia, after which the Ukrainian leader dug his heels in and insisted that the US should continue supporting his country. Vance soon joined the fray, reasserting Trump’s remarks that Zelensky had failed to show enough respect and gratitude toward the US.
In a post on X, Fox News journalist Jacqui Heinrich wrote that “Trump kicked out Zelenskyy – he did not walk off on his own.”
She further quoted an unnamed member of the White House staff as claiming that the Ukrainian delegation was “begging to reset but [Secretary of State Marco] Rubio and [National Security Advisor Mike] Waltz informed them Zelenskyy needs to leave [the] White House grounds,” and that the Ukrainian leader could “return when he’s ready for peace.”
This live feed has ended.
01 March 2025
Congressman Greg Steube slammed Zelensky’s confrontational tirade in the White House as “ridiculous grandstanding.”
“Ridiculous grandstanding by Zelensky in the Oval Office,” the lawmaker wrote on X.
“The United States has spent hundreds of billions of dollars to defend Ukraine. And this is the thanks the American people get?” he said.
The era of blank checks for Ukraine is done, Rep. Mark Green said in a press release on Friday, commenting on Zelensky’s scandalous visit to the Oval Office. The lawmaker said Trump offered a “beyond generous” deal for Ukrainian mineral resources.
”Instead, President Zelensky came into the Oval Office and disrespected the President of the United States,” Green said.
”Well, guess what—the era of blank checks is over,” he said.
”A 50/50 split is beyond generous. No mining company and its investors would ever do that deal. Most mining companies get 90% and the country gets 10%,” the lawmaker said.
Zelensky needs to apologize for turning his bilateral meeting with Trump into a “fiasco,” State Secretary Marco Rubio told CNN on Friday.
He should “apologize for turning this thing into the fiasco for him that it became,” the top diplomat said. “There was no need for him to go in there and become antagonistic,” he added.
He noted that Ukrainian leader’s attitude could be viewed as a reluctance to work towards a peace deal.
“And so you start to perceive that maybe Zelensky doesn’t want a peace deal. He says he does, but maybe he doesn’t,” Rubio said.
Congressman Pat Harrigan took to X to commend Trump’s handling of the meeting, praising his adherence to US interests.
“America’s priorities come first. @POTUS and @VP made it clear—Ukraine’s interests are not America’s interests,” he wrote.
“We’ve spent hundreds of billions with no accountability, no clear objectives, and no plan for peace,” Harrigan stressed. “It’s time to put America first and end this war.”
House Republican Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain praised Trump as a peacemaker, replying to Trump’s Truth Social post about the confrontational Friday meeting.
“President Trump inherited this war. He has said from the beginning he wants to bring peace,” she wrote on X.
“I know his negotiations will bring a deal together,” McClain added.
Senator Eric Schmitt praised the position Trump and Vance took in Friday’s meeting with Zelensky as firmly pro-American.
“It’s about time we have leaders who say what the American people are really thinking and prioritize the core national interests of America,” he wrote on X.
“The American taxpayer is tapped out, and President Trump and VP Vance are spot on,” Schmitt underscored.
Zelensky retweeted words of support from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, in the fallout of his scandalous meeting with Trump.
”Canada will continue to stand with Ukraine and Ukrainians in achieving a just and lasting peace,” Trudeau wrote on X.
Slovenian President Natasa Pirc Musar took to X to support Zelensky, branding Friday’s White House meeting as a fundamental threat to diplomacy.
“Slovenia upholds the principles and respect of international law and international relations. What we witnessed in the Oval Office today undermines these values and the foundations of diplomacy,” Musar wrote.
“We stand firmly in support of Ukraine's sovereignty,” she added.
Zelensky praised Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo for his support, following the scandalous White House meeting.
“Finland and the Finnish people stand firmly with Ukraine,” the official wrote on X. “We will continue our unwavering support and work towards a just and lasting peace.”
Majority Leader Steve Scalise stressed that Trump has been the first leader to sit down with Russia to discuss a serious and long-term peace in the Ukraine conflict.
“President Trump is fighting for PEACE,” he wrote on X. Trump is “the only one to get Russia to the table to consider a serious and lasting peace agreement with Ukraine,” Scalise said.
Trump’s Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy praised the US president for taking a strong position against disrespect, in an X comment on Fiday’s disastrous meeting with Zelensky.
“The American people will not stand for disrespect of our President, Oval Office, or our generous taxpayers,” Duffy wrote.
“Peace is only accomplished through strength and our allies need to understand that,” he added.
State Secretary Marco Rubio praised Trump’s “America First” position at Friday’s confrontational meeting with Zelensky.
”Thank you @POTUS for standing up for America in a way that no President has ever had the courage to do before,” he wrote on X. “Thank you for putting America First.”
Zelensky has brushed aside Senator Lindsey Graham’s comment about resigning.
”No, no... I’m not sure that’s a good idea.” Zelensky said, adding that the decision was for Ukrainians to make.
”Americans vote for American president… Only Ukrainians vote for their president,” he said.
While Zelensky’s five-year tenure expired in May of last year, he has refused to hold new elections, citing martial law.
Pro-Ukraine Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) has urged Zelensky to resign after his “disrespectful” conduct in his White House meeting with Trump.
”What I saw in the Oval Office was disrespectful and I don’t know if we can ever do business with Zelensky again,” Graham told reporters.
”He either needs to resign and send somebody over that we can do business with, or he needs to change,” he stressed.
28 February 2025
Zelensky refused to apologize for his behavior at the White House, claiming he was unsure he did anything bad, when repeatedly pressed by Fox News’ Bret Baier on whether the Ukrainian leader owes Trump an apology.
”No, I respect the president, and I respect the American people… I’m not sure we did something bad,” Zelensky said, adding that he felt that some things should be discussed away from the media.
Zelensky was aiming to secure a superpower’s support and continue fighting Russia, Trump told the press after his explosive meeting with the Ukrainian leader.
“We're looking for peace. We're not looking for somebody that's going to sign up a strong power and then not make peace because they feel emboldened,” Trump said.
“That's what I saw happening,” he said.
“We're not looking to go into a 10-year war… This is a man that wants to get us signed up and keep fighting,” Trump stressed.
Zelensky overplayed his hand at the derailed White House meeting, Trump said in a comment to Fox News.
“I would say it didn’t work out exactly great,” the US president said. Zelensky “very much overplayed his hand,” he added.
Ukrainian-born GOP Congresswoman Victoria Spartz stressed that Zelensky dealt the people of Ukraine a major disfavor with his disrespectful public display in the White House.
”Zelensky is doing a serious disservice to the Ukrainian people insulting the American President and the American people – just to appease Europeans and increase his low polling in Ukraine after he failed miserably to defend his country,” Spartz wrote on X.
Trump’s Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem expressed pride at the way the US president handled the confrontation with Zelensky.
”I am so proud of our Commander-in-Chief. Thank you President @RealDonaldTrump and @VP for standing up for America,” the DHS chief wrote.
”We will not tolerate the political games and disrespect of America,” she added.
GOP Senator Bernie Moreno supported Trump’s position, praising the US president for standing against “endless” US wars.
“Finally we have a President who will speak the TRUTH and stand up against Washington’s endless wars,” Moreno wrote on X.
“American taxpayers have been funding this war, it’s time to stop the killing and stop risking World War 3!” he added.
The White House has released an explainer to the explosive meeting between Trump and Zelensky, providing media citations to key points the US president made.
Among them were Zelensky’s past admission to Time Magazine that the Ukraine conflict could splash out into World War III; as well as Trump’s 2017 provision of lethal weapons to Kiev, among others.
Donald Trump Jr. mocked Zelensky’s attitude at the White House meeting, in a meme on X.
Earlier, he praised his father’s handling of the confrontation.
”This is what leadership looks like. America is done being taken advantage of,” Trump Jr. wrote.
Zelensky can come back once ready to talk peace, Trump said in a statement published by the White House, accompanied by a video of the Ukrainian leader leaving following the scandalous visit.
”He disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office. He can come back when he is ready for Peace,” the White House said in an X post.
Trump’s government efficiency czar Elon Musk made a joke about Zelensky's employment status, following the spat.
”Zelensky has been fired from his acting job,” Musk quipped in a post on X.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban thanked Trump for taking a pro-peace stance in his confrontation with Zelensky.
”Strong men make peace, weak men make war,” Orban wrote on X.
”Today President @realDonaldTrump stood bravely for peace. Even if it was difficult for many to digest. Thank you, Mr. President!” he added.
Pro-Ukraine Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) has told Fox News he doesn’t know if Zelensky and Trump can “repair the damage” and resume talks on achieving peace.
“Zelensky either has to fundamentally change, or go. I can’t believe most Americans, after what they saw today, would want to be partners with Zelensky,” he stated after the Ukrainian leader left the Oval Office following the heated exchange with Trump.
“I have never been more proud of the president. I was very proud of J.D. Vance standing up for our country,” Graham said.
EU top diplomat Kaja Kallas has stated that Brussels will “step up” its support for Kiev “so that they can continue to fight back the agressor (sic).”
“Today, it became clear that the free world needs a new leader. It’s up to us, Europeans, to take this challenge,” the EU’s high representative for foreign affairs wrote on X.
Several EU members have voiced their support for Kiev after the scandal.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk wrote on X: “dear Ukrainian friends, you are not alone.” His Spanish counterpart, Pedro Sanchez, echoed the stance, posting on social media that his country “stands with” Ukraine.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has stated that Berlin “together with our European allies stands united alongside #Ukraine - and against the Russian aggression.”
“Ukraine can build on unwavering support from Germany, Europe and beyond. Their defence of democracy & their quest for peace & security is ours,” she added.
Zelensky has so far refrained from making comments on the further fate of the deal or the talks with Trump. He has posted on his official X account:
“Thank you America, thank you for your support, thank you for this visit. Thank you @POTUS, Congress, and the American people. Ukraine needs just and lasting peace, and we are working exactly for that.”
The Russian Foreign Ministry’s spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, has commented on the developments, saying that “Zelensky's biggest lie of all his lies” was his claim during the White House meeting “that the Kiev regime was left alone in 2022, without support.”
“That Trump and Vance refrained from punching this scumbag is a miracle of restraint” she wrote on Telegram.
Kiev has received billions worth of aid from its Western backers after the escalation of hostilities more than three years ago.
Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has described what transpired between Trump and Zelensky as “a fierce dressing down in the Oval Office.”
“Trump told the cocaine clown the truth to his face for the first time: the Kiev regime is playing with World War III” Medvedev, the deputy chairman of the Security Council of Russia, said in a post on Telegram. In his words, Zelensky “got a solid slap.”
“This is useful. But it is not enough – we need to stop military aid to the Nazi machine.”
Trump-appointed government efficiency tsar Elon Musk wrote in a post on X that “Zelensky destroyed himself in the eyes of the American people” following the Ukrainian leader’s rowdy exchange with the US president and vice president.
The planned joint press conference of Trump and Zelensky has been canceled, CNN has reported, citing a White House official.
Reuters has reported that Zelensky left the White House ahead of schedule after the shouting match with Trump and Vance.
“You’re either going to make a deal, or we’re out, and if we’re out, you’ll fight it out. I don’t think it’s going to be pretty,” Trump insisted.
“It’s going to be a very hard thing doing business like this,” the US president observed.
Trump claimed that if Ukraine “didn’t have our military equipment, this war would’ve been over in two weeks.”
Following his meeting with Zelensky, which reportedly ended with Zelensky leaving the White House after a spat with the US leader, Trump posted on this Truth Social media that the Ukrainian leader “is not ready for peace”.
“We had a very meaningful meeting in the White House today. Much was learned that could never be understood without conversation under such fire and pressure. 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. 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,” he said.
After Zelensky said “we’ve been alone,” Trump reminded the Ukrainian leader that the US had given Ukraine $350 billion in aid since the escalation of the conflict.
“Your country is in big trouble. You’re not winning this,” Trump told Zelensky.
“Have you said ‘thank you’ once?” J.D. Vance asked the Ukrainian leader.
“What you are doing is very disrespectful” to the US, the American president concluded, addressing Zelensky.
Raising his voice, Trump told Zelensky that he is “gambling with the lives of millions of people” and “World War III” by refusing to negotiate with Russia.
The US president warned Zelensky that he does not “have the cards right now” – “we’re not playing cards,” the Ukrainian leader retorted.
“You are in no position to dictate what we’re gonna feel,” a visibly irritated Trump told Zelensky after the Ukrainian leader suggested the US would feel the “influence” unless it continues backing Kiev.
J.D. Vance has chided the Ukrainian leader for coming to the “Oval Office of the United States of America and attack[ing] the administration that is trying to prevent the destruction of your country.”
Vice President J.D. Vance has joined the conversation, suggesting that Zelensky is being “disrespectful” toward the US leadership and ungrateful for the aid provided.
The US leader has stated he wants to see the “money get put to different kinds of use, like [the] rebuilding” of Ukraine as opposed to fighting.
President Trump has said he will try to bring the Ukraine conflict to a close, claiming that both Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin want a cessation of hostilities.
Zelensky has arrived at the White House to meet with President Donald Trump. Greeting him at the entrance, Trump noted that the Ukrainian leader is “all dressed up today.” Zelensky is wearing a black long-sleeve shirt and what appear to be work boots.