 "US President Donald Trump and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky listen to Vice President JD Vance (R)as they meet in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, February 28, 2025. Zelensky on February 28 told Trump there should be \"no compromises\" with Russian President Vladimir Putin as the parties negotiate to end the war after Moscow's invasion. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP)")
Donald Trump and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a fiery meeting at the White House on Friday, leading to a verbal clash between the two leaders in front of the press. The US President accused him of “gambling with World War III” and also said, “Either you make a deal, or we are out.”
“I am not aligned with anybody. I am aligned with the United States of America and the good of the world,” Trump said. “Don’t tell us what we’re gonna feel. You’re in no position to dictate what we’re going to feel … You’ve allowed yourself to be in a very bad position … You don’t have the cards right now with us.”
Zelenskyy responds with same intensity
Zelenskyy, who is a former comedian and movie star, responded with the same intensity. Zelenskyy said, “We are in our own country, and we have stayed strong all this time. We have even thanked you for it [your support].”
To this, the US Vice President responded, “In this meeting?”
The meeting turned into an extraordinary shouting match as the international media watched in shock.
“I’m afraid dealing this way is going to make things very difficult,” said President Trump.
Impact Shorts
More Shorts“You’re gambling with the lives of millions of people. You’re gambling with World War III, and what you’re doing is very disrespectful to this country,” Donald Trump said.
A shouting match
US Vice President JD Vance got involved in the shouting match when Zelenskyy, a former TV star, asked him to stop “talking loudly.”
In a firm tone, Vance told Zelenskyy that “diplomacy was needed” to end the war. Zelenskyy pushed back, asking, “What kind of diplomacy?” Vance then accused him of being “disrespectful” in the President’s office.
Defending the Vice President, Donald Trump said, “We have given you $350 billion, we gave you military equipment, and a lot of backing. If you didn’t have our military equipment, this war would have been over in two weeks.”
Donald Trump often ends up in the media spotlight for one controversial statement or another, but the meeting between the two leaders turned into a shouting match on a live TV.