Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Donald Trump have argued in a heated meeting in front of the cameras in the White House’s Oval Office. The Ukrainian later left, without signing a deal as planned. Watch 10 minutes of their shouting match below.
Friday 28 February 2025 19:54, UK
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We’re just hearing from US Senator Lindsey Graham, who described the heated Oval Office meeting between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy as a „complete utter disaster“.
Graham says the Ukrainian people have „fought like tigers“ but adds he told Zelenskyy this morning „don’t take the bait“.
„I have never been more proud of the president,“ the Republican tells reporters, adding he is „very proud“ of JD Vance.
Turning to what happens next, Graham said he does not know whether the US can do business with Zelenskyy again.
„Most Americans saw a guy [Zelenskyy] they wouldn’t want to do business with,“ he adds.
Graham ended by saying the Ukrainian president either needs to „resign“ or „send someone we can do business with or change“.
Zelenskyy got a „solid slap“ in his talks with Donald Trump at the White House, according to former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev.
„A brutal dressing down in the Oval Office,“ Medvedev, who is deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, posted on Telegram.
Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said it was a miracle that Trump and vice president JD Vance had restrained themselves from hitting Zelenskyy during the argument.
We can now bring you some reaction from Europe following this afternoon’s fiery meeting between Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Donald Trump.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk was simple with his message, telling Zelenskyy and his „dear Ukrainian friends“ they are „not alone“ during this time.
Over in Portugal, French President Emmanuel Macron said Russia is the aggressor, and it is the Ukrainian people who are the ones being attacked.
The French leader said it was important to „respect“ those who have been fighting since the start for the security of Europe.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch also shared her thoughts on X, saying „respectable diplomacy is essential for peace“.
„A divided West only benefits Russia,“ she wrote.
„Now is the time for more cooperation, not less. Any peace agreement must be negotiated with Ukraine at the table, and will need security guarantees.
„We cannot lose sight of the fact that tonight air raid sirens are sounding in Ukraine.“
We’re hearing more from behind the scenes at the White House now, thanks to our US partner NBC News.
A White House official, when asked for their initial reaction to the heated meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy earlier, said: „America First happened.“
And asked if the shouting match was an intentional move by Donald Trump and JD Vance, a senior administration official told our US partner NBC News: „Ask Zelenskyy if it was intentional.“
By David Blevins, Sky correspondent, in Washington
President Trump said it would make „great television“.
It certainly didn’t make for great diplomacy. Quite the opposite.
The gulf between the United States and Ukraine laid bare on camera around the globe.
The niceties in the Oval Office came to an abrupt end when Trump said he wasn’t aligned with either Ukraine or Russia.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy questioned how diplomacy would work when Putin „breaks ceasefires“.
JD Vance accused him of being „disrespectful“ by trying „to litigate this in front of the American media“.
It went from bad to worse when Zelenskyy replied: „You have a nice ocean and don’t feel now, but you will feel it in the future.“
„Don’t tell us what we’re going to feel… you’re in no position to dictate that,“ Trump retorted.
„You don’t have the card right now… you’re gambling with the lives of millions of people… you’re gambling with World War Three… and what you’re doing is very disrespectful to this country,“ he added.
You could have cut the atmosphere in the West Wing with a knife as the back and forth continued for several minutes.
It brings the flurry of diplomatic activity in Washington this week to a disastrous conclusion.
The French president had flattered Trump with words, the UK prime minister stepping up the charm offensive with a letter of invitation from the King.
But Zelenskyy, who looked like a man with the world on his shoulders, had chosen not to ignore the elephant in the room.
Instead, he continued to demand security guarantees from the United States as part of any ceasefire.
The hostile words culminating in a moment unprecedented in living memory – the Ukrainian president leaving the White House and being told not to return until he’s ready to make peace.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy has posted on X following his dramatic exit from the White House.
Ukraine’s president was accused by Donald Trump and JD Vance of being „disrespectful“ towards America during their fiery Oval Office meeting earlier.
Vance accused Zelenskyy of failing to be thankful for the US’s support for Ukraine since the war with Russia started in 2022.
„Thank you America, thank you for your support, thank you for this visit,“ Zelenskyy wrote.
Here are some images of the East Room in the White House, where Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Donald Trump were scheduled to host a news conference today.
Instead, the room is being cleared away, with the lecterns and chairs being carried out by staff.
The UK government’s position remains unchanged after the breakdown in talks between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy, a source has said.
Speaking to our political editor Beth Rigby, the source said „let’s see what happens in coming days“.
The source described the government’s position as „unwavering support for just and lasting peace that ensures Ukraine’s sovereignty and security.“
They then repeat Sir Keir Starmer’s stance of „no negotiations about Ukraine without Ukraine“ and add that Europe has to play its part on defence and „step up“.
By Deborah Haynes, security and defence editor, from Ukraine
The fiery and very public bust-up between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy is a disaster for Ukraine and its European allies and a triumph for Russia.
The spectacle of the US president berating his Ukrainian counterpart and telling him he is gambling with World War 3 – played out on television in the Oval Office – was hard to witness.
Zelenskyy – looking increasingly uncomfortable – decided to fight back. He likely felt he had little choice but to defend himself and his war-torn country.
But this act of defiance drew even more condemnation from Trump as well as from JD Vance, the vice president, who also started attacking the Ukrainian leader.
It is hard to imagine a greater contrast from the chummy scenes between Sir Keir Starmer and Trump and the scolding language used by the American president against Zelenskyy, at times addressing him as though he were a naughty school boy.
Ukraine’s president, his arms crossed, tried his best to speak up, but he was clearly fighting a losing battle. The extraordinary breakdown is far more serious than just a made-for-television drama.
American support for Ukraine is critical if Kyiv is to withstand Russia’s war. The UK, France and Ukraine’s other European allies have been working overtime to try to keep Trump on their side.
The US president has vowed to end the war and started talks with Vladimir Putin. The two presidents also plan to meet. That alone was hard for Ukraine to witness.
But the Ukrainian side has attempted to work with Washington rather than against it, including by being willing to part with profits from its minerals and other natural resources in return for locking Trump into a long term partnership with Ukraine.
That all looks to be shattered – or at best is in serious jeopardy.
If Trump, in anger, withdraws all of his military support to Ukraine, Kyiv’s ability to withstand Russia’s military will be seriously diminished.
The Europeans lack the capability to fill the void. The only person who wins in this scenario is Vladimir Putin.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy has just left the White House after his fiery meeting with Donald Trump in the Oval Office.
The two leaders were expected to hold a news conference this evening, which has now been cancelled.
A White House official has said the minerals deal between the US and Ukraine has also not been signed.
The Ukrainian president has just got into his vehicle outside the West Wing.
The White House official said it is up to Ukraine to see if a meeting can be rescheduled while Zelenskyy remains in the country.
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Trump tells Zelenskyy: 'I'm not aligned with Putin, I'm aligned with the US' – Sky News
