 "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. Source: AFP")
US President Trump warned Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that he was “gambling with World War III” during a heated Oval Office exchange on Friday (February 28).
Tensions escalated shortly after Vice President JD Vance confronted Zelenskyy for not ‘being grateful’.
“I am not aligned with anybody. I am aligned with the United States of America and the good of the world,” Trump said during the meeting.
The US president then told Zelenskyy he needed to be thankful and that he was “gambling with World War III" and with “millions of lives”.
JD Vance too joined in and accused the visiting president of “litigating in front of the American media” and making disrespectful comments.
“Have you said thank you once?,” he asked, according to reports.
But as Zelenskyy tried to respond, Trump exploded:
“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.”
“You are gambling with the lives of millions, you are gambling with World War Three. And what you are doing is very disrespectful to this country.”
Impact Shorts
More Shorts‘Make a deal or we are out’
Trump made clear to Zelenskyy that he had to finalise the proposed minerals deal with the US, otherwise ‘we are out’.
“The problem is, I’ve empowered you to be a tough guy, and I don’t think you’d be a tough guy without the United States,” Trump told Zelenskyy directly.
“And your people are very brave. But you’re either going to make a deal or we are out and if we’re out, you’ll fight it out.”
“I don’t think it’s going to be pretty, but you’ll fight it out.”
“But you don’t have the cards but once we sign that deal. You’re in a much better position [with the deal], but you’re not acting at all thankful and that’s not a nice thing. I’ll be honest.”
Trump, Zelenskyy clash over EU support to Ukraine
Trump and Zelenskyy also had a heated exchange over the degree of support provided by Europe to Ukraine over the past three years.
Zelenskyy stated: “Really, we can help Europe because Europe really helped… President Trump said they [offered] less support, but they are out friends and very supportive partners… They really gave a lot, Mr President.”
Trump responded, “Really? Maybe they did, but they gave much less.”
Zelenskyy: No.
Trump: Much less.
Zelenskyy: No.
Trump: … less …
Zelenskyy: No.
In the end, Trump waved his hand and said “okay”.