Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Donald Trump have argued in a heated meeting in front of the cameras in the White House’s Oval Office. Trump called Zelenskyy „disrespectful“, with Zelenskyy saying there should be „no compromises“ with „killer“ Putin. Watch Sky News below for the latest.
Friday 28 February 2025 17:47, UK
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We’ve just heard from US correspondent Mark Stone responding to the latest lines coming from the Oval Office and Donald Trump’s meeting with Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
„This doesn’t look like it’s going particularly well,“ he says.
„This looks like it’s really quite a tense meeting.“
Stone says he was very surprised to hear JD Vance ask Zelenskyy whether he had ever said thank you to the US for its support throughout its war with Russia.
„To be clear, I have covered every single one of Zelenskyy’s trips to Washington over the course of the past three years,“ he adds.
„He has said thank you repeatedly to the Americans for what they have offered in terms of military support.
„This does not sound like it is a particularly warm meeting at all.“
Trump tells Zelenskyy: „You’re gambling with World War Three, and what you’re doing is very disrespectful to the country.“
He has also told the Ukrainian president „you either make a deal or we are out“.
„Don’t tell us what we’re going to feel,“ he tells Zelenskyy.
„We’re trying to solve a problem. Don’t tell us what we’re going to feel, because you’re in no position to dictate that exactly. You’re in no position to dictate what we’re going to feel.“
Trump tells Zelenskyy „you’re right now not in a very good position“.
„You don’t have the cards right now with us, you start having problems right now.“
Donald Trump has revealed he spoke to Vladimir Putin „a couple of days ago“, adding he believes Russia’s president wants to make a deal over ending the war in Ukraine.
It comes as relations between the US and Russia appear to be improving following Trump’s return to the White House.
There was a phone call between Trump and Russia’s president in recent weeks, as well as meetings between US and Russian officials in Saudi Arabia and Turkey.
In the Oval Office, Trump tells reporters „I’m not aligned with Putin“ and says he is aligned with the US and the good of the world.
We’re getting more pictures from the Oval Office now.
It appears Zelenskyy has been showing Trump pictures of Ukrainian prisoners of war held by Russia.
Zooming in on one of the images shows the name Volodymyr Shevchenko.
Shevchenko apparently spent more than two years in a Russian prison as a prisoner of war, according to a website.
„They kept him in a cell with 15 other people,“ the akmu website says.
„Every day they beat us,“ it adds.
In contrast to Keir Starmer’s flattery yesterday, Zelenskyy appears to be confronting Trump with the harsh realities of war for Ukrainians since Russia’s invasion.
More comments to bring you now from the Oval Office.
In the last few moments, Donald Trump has told reporters he is „in the middle“.
„I am for both Ukraine and Russia,“ he said, adding „I want to get it solved“.
Responding to those comments, Sky News correspondent David Blevins says: „What a remarkable thing to hear from the president of the United States that he’s in the middle between Russia and Ukraine.
„If that doesn’t tell you that the geopolitical plates have shifted under the presidency of Donald J Trump, nothing ever will.“
Meanwhile, Volodymyr Zelenskyy has told reporters Vladimir Putin „has to pay“ for starting the war.
The Ukrainian president also said the minerals deal alone is not enough for his country.
We’re currently hearing from military analyst Professor Michael Clarke, who is reacting live in the studio to Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s trip to the White House.
He says today is „probably one of the most important days for Ukraine since the invasion began“.
„On that day of days, 24 February 2022, we all thought Zelenskyy would be dead before the end of the week,“ he tells Sky News presenter Matt Barbet.
„Today is as big a day as that because today will determine the general tone with which this goes forward for Ukraine.“
Clarke says Zelenskyy will not accept a peace plan presented by Trump and the US that is effectively a „suicide deal“, depriving Ukraine of any security guarantees that would allow Russia to invade again within three years.
„I don’t think Ukrainians would go for it. I think, even without a strategic plan, I think they would keep fighting for as long as they could.“
Read more of Clarke’s analysis of the Ukraine war by catching up with his live Q&A session this week…
We’re now starting to hear from Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy as they take their seats in the Oval Office.
Trump confirms the minerals deal with Ukraine will be signed today, and says „we have something that is a very fair deal“.
„It is a big commitment from the US,“ he adds.
Trump tells Zelenskyy you won’t go back to fighting, and on sending arms to Ukraine, he says „hopefully we won’t have to send much“.
Zelenskyy says he hopes „this document will be a step forward for Ukraine“.
The Ukrainian president also tells reporters he wants to discuss what the US is „ready to do“ during his meeting with Trump.
Donald Trump has welcomed Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the White House.
His visit comes after similar trips across the Atlantic for France’s Emmanuel Macron and Britain’s Keir Starmer this week.
So how do the arrivals of Zelenskyy and Starmer compare?
Despite some fears he wouldn’t, Trump did greet Zelenskyy at the entrance to the West Wing, and shook his hand.
There were fewer smiles than the greeting for Starmer but there was still a handshake, and the two posed for the cameras.
However, the two did stand noticeably slightly apart.
Trump also opted for a defiant fist, rather than the thumbs up he used to greet Starmer.
Zelenskyy also looked stern, even when Trump pointed to him and appeared to call to the waiting press.
As we’ve been reporting, Trump recently called the democratically-elected President Zelenskyy a dictator – and then yesterday said he didn’t remember using the word – so it’s no wonder there’s a degree of frostiness. But both men need each other politically.
Here’s how the same moment unfolded yesterday with UK PM Starmer.
Arguably, this was the most awkward Starmer looked during his whole visit – with the rest of the moments in front of the camera going well.
Trump praised the PM’s accent, hinted at a possible UK-US trade deal, accepted an invite for a second state visit from the King, and even praised Starmer’s wife – earning the Labour leader rave reviews in the press at home.
Recap how the visit went by checking the key points on this live page.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy has just arrived at the White House and is greeted by Donald Trump.
The two leaders shake hands outside the West Wing and pose for some pictures in front of the press.
We’re expecting to hear from them when they take their seats in the Oval Office shortly – we’ll bring you those comments as we get them.
The stage is set… we’re expecting Volodymyr Zelenskyy to arrive at the White House shortly.
The Ukrainian president was due to arrive at the doors of the West Wing at 4pm UK time – stay with us, we’ll be bringing you the moment he arrives.
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Ukraine war latest: Trump tells Zelenskyy – 'I'm not aligned with Putin, I'm aligned with the US' – Sky News
