The two leaders met in the Oval Office prior to an event at which they were expected to sign a deal for U.S. participation in Ukraine's mineral industry. But Zelenskiy openly challenged Trump over his softer approach toward Russian President Vladimir Putin. Zelenskiy pushed back on Trump's claims that Ukrainian cities have been reduced to rubble by three years of war. Trump stressed that Putin wants to make a deal. "You are gambling with World War Three," Trump told Zelenskiy at one point, urging him to be more thankful.
Vice President JD Vance interjected that it was disrespectful of him to come to the Oval Office to litigate his position, a point Trump agreed with. "People are dying ... you're running low on soldiers," Trump told Zelenskiy as their meeting degenerated into a shouting match. Trump told Zelenskiy he either needed to make a deal or the United States was out.
Zelenskiy left the White House after the contentious meeting with President Trump, a White House official said. Trump has engaged in a long-distance feud with Zelenskiy in recent weeks, criticizing his handling of the war, calling him a "dictator" and urging him to agree to the minerals deal.
