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By Gabe Whisnant
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During Friday morning's heated news conference in the Oval Office, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky emphatically told U.S. President Donald Trump that his country wasn't interested in a ceasefire deal amid its ongoing Russian invasion.
In his earlier remarks, Trump called for a "ceasefire" and "truce" amid Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine. The president also reiterated Friday that he "trusts" Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Zelensky urged skepticism about Russia's commitment to diplomacy, pointing to Moscow's long history of broken agreements on the global stage.
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As part of the extraordinary exchange broadcast across the world, Trump told Zelensky, "You don't have the cards. You're buried there. People are dying. You're running low on soldiers. It would be a damn good thing, and then you tell us, 'I don't want a ceasefire. I don't want a ceasefire, I want to go, and I want this.' Look, if you can get a ceasefire right now, I tell you, you take it so the bullets stop flying and your men stop getting killed."
Zelensky replied, "Of course we want to stop the war. But I said to you, with guarantees."
The president interjected, "Are you saying you don't want a ceasefire? I want a ceasefire. Because you'll get a ceasefire faster than an agreement."
"Ask our people about a ceasefire, what they think," Zelensky continued.
Trump then quipped, "That wasn't with me. That was with a guy named Biden, who is not a smart person."
Zelensky had been expected to sign an agreement granting the U.S. greater access to Ukraine's rare earth minerals and participate in a joint news conference with Trump. However, that plan was abandoned following the tense exchange between the two leaders in front of the media.
Trump and Vance call Zelensky 'disrespectful'
The final ten minutes of the nearly 45-minute meeting grew tense as Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Zelensky engaged in a heated exchange.
The confrontation began when Vance told Zelensky, "Mr. President, with respect. I think it's disrespectful for you to come to the Oval Office to try to litigate this in front of the American media."
Zelensky replied, "Have you ever been to Ukraine? Come once?"
"You bring people, you bring them on a propaganda tour, Mr. President," Vance responded, and then challenged him over issues the country has had with military conscriptions.
"First of all, during the war, everybody has problems, even you," Zelensky said. "But you have nice ocean and don't feel now, but you will feel it in the future."
Trump immediately chimed in, "You don't know that. Don't tell us what we're going to feel. You're in no position to dictate that," the president said.
"You're right now not in a very good position. You've allowed yourself to be in a very bad position," he added. "You don't have the cards right now. With us, you start having cards."
"I'm not playing cards. I'm very serious, Mr. president," Zelensky quipped. "I'm very serious."
Then Trump raised his voice, warning, "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 the country, this country that's backed you far more than a lot of people say they should have," Trump added.
Earlier in the meeting Trump said the U.S. would continue to provide military assistance to Ukraine, but said he hoped that not too much aid would be forthcoming. "We're not looking forward to sending a lot of arms," Trump said. "We're looking forward to getting the war finished so we can do other things."
But as the Oval Office meeting went on in front of the press, the intensity grew, and the diplomatic conversation devolved.
"It's going to be a very hard thing to do business like this," Trump told Zelensky at one point, as the two leaders talked over each other about past international support for Ukraine.
"Again, just say thank you," Vance interjected to Zelensky, blasting him for litigating "disagreements" in front of the press. Trump, though, suggested he was fine with the drama. "I think it's good for the American people to see what's going on," he added.
It was a striking moment of open antagonism in the Oval Office, a space typically reserved for formal diplomacy. Trump made clear his pressure on Zelensky to agree to a deal securing U.S. interests in Ukraine's valuable minerals and to pursue a diplomatic resolution to the war on his terms.
"This is going to be great television, I will say," Trump said as the meeting broke up.
After the heated exchange, Trump put out a Truth Social post that said Zelensky can come back to the U.S. when he's "ready for peace."
Trump Touts 'Big Commitment' from U.S. to Ukraine
Trump praised Ukrainian soldiers for their incredible bravery and highlighted an economic agreement between the two countries.
"It is a big commitment from the United States," Trump said. He added that the United States has little of the rare earth minerals that are abundant in Ukraine, and says those resources will support uses in the U.S. including artificial intelligence and military weapons.
Zelenskyy emphasized the potential for liquid natural gas exports to Europe but politely pushed back when Trump reiterated his claim that Europe had done far less than the United States to support Ukraine against Russia.
Calling Putin a killer and a terrorist, Zelenskyy told Trump there should be "no compromises with a killer." He also brought printed photos to illustrate his point, though journalists in the room were unable to see them.
What Happens Next
The dramatic turn of events could have far-reaching consequences in Europe and beyond.
It remains uncertain how the confrontation will impact the deal that Trump has called essential to compensating the U.S. for the more than $180 billion in American aid provided to Kyiv since the war began.
Additionally, it is unclear what, if anything, Trump may now demand from Zelensky to move the agreement forward.
Update: 2/28/25, 12:54 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
Update: 2/28/25, 1:01 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
Update: 2/28/25, 1:11 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
Update: 2/28/25, 1:57 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
Update: 2/28/25, 2:09 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
Update: 2/28/25, 2:18 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
Update: 2/28/25, 4:50 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
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