President Donald Trump’s meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday quickly turned tense, as the two leaders clashed over the prospects of a US-brokered peace deal with Russia.
Zelenskyy cast doubt on the likelihood of a lasting agreement, prompting an angry response from Trump and Vice President JD Vance, who accused the Ukrainian leader of being ungrateful and obstructing negotiations.
“It’s going to be very hard to do business like this,” Trump told Zelenskyy, suggesting that Ukraine lacked leverage without US support.
“You’ve got to be more thankful, because let me tell you, you don’t have the cards. With us, you have the cards, but without us, you don’t have any cards.”
He went further, warning, “You’re gambling with World War III, and what you’re doing is very disrespectful to the country.”
Zelenskyy vs Trump and Vance at the Oval Office
The heated exchange came as both the leaders were meeting to sign an agreement allowing the US to unlock future revenue from Ukraine’s natural resources.
Trump had presented the deal as a major commitment to Kyiv, arguing that it would pave the way for peace.
However, it failed to offer the explicit security guarantees Zelenskyy had sought, focusing instead on economic collaboration.
Zelenskyy pushed back, insisting that Russian President Vladimir Putin had repeatedly violated past ceasefire agreements and that Ukraine could not settle for a simple ceasefire.
“Putin will never stop and will go further and further,” he warned, arguing that the Russian leader was determined to destroy Ukraine.
The conversation became even more contentious when Vance criticized Zelenskyy’s tone.
“Do you think that it’s respectful to come to the Oval Office of the United States of America and attack the administration that’s trying to prevent the destruction of your country?” the vice president asked.
Trump then accused Zelenskyy of harboring “tremendous hatred” for Putin, suggesting that his emotions were preventing a resolution.
Tensions escalated further when Zelenskyy suggested that Trump, protected by an ocean, did not fully grasp the immediate threat Ukraine faced.
Trump shot back, “You’re in no position to dictate what we’re going to feel. We’re going to feel very good and very strong. You’re right now not in a very good position right now.”
Vance then pressed Zelenskyy to acknowledge US support, pointedly asking, “Have you said thank you once?”
He also added: “Accept that there are disagreements, and let’s go litigate those disagreements rather than trying to fight it out in the American media when you’re wrong.”
Trump has portrayed the natural resources deal as a way to reimburse American taxpayers while strengthening economic ties with Ukraine. He has also continued to push for a ceasefire, arguing that economic incentives would be enough to deter Russian aggression.
“Once we make the agreement, that’s going to be 95% of it. It’s not going to go back to fighting,” Trump said, expressing confidence in his ability to negotiate with Putin.
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