Donald Trump “felt disrespected” by Volodymyr Zelensky during a tense press conference with the Ukraine president and JD Vance. Mr Zelensky left the White House early following the meeting.
A spokesperson for the US president told Fox News: “The President felt disrespected by Zelensky’s rhetoric and demeanor, he was shrugging his shoulders and rolling his eyes”. The extraordinary scenes were played out live on the television screens of millions of Americans and viewers elsewhere, send shockwaves around the world. Within minutes, Mr Trump posted on his Truth Social account: “We had a very meaningful meeting in the White House today. Much was learned that could never be understood without conversation under such fire and pressure.
“It’s amazing what comes out through emotion, and I have determined that President Zelenskyy is not ready for Peace if America is involved, because he feels our involvement gives him a big advantage in negotiations.
I don’t want advantage, I want PEACE.
“He disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office.
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“He can come back when he is ready for Peace.”
Speaking on Fox News, Fox News’s Jackie Heinrich, citing White House sources, said the row was not part of any premeditated strategy by Mr Trump.
CNN reporter Kaitlan Collins, posting on X, said: “Here’s what happened inside the White House after the Oval Office shouting match: Trump huddled with his key advisers immediately afterward inside the Oval.
“According to a White House official, Trump consulted Vance, Rubio, Bessent, etc. That was when Trump decided that Zelensky was “not in a place to negotiate.” He directed Secretary Rubio and his national security adviser Mike Waltz to deliver the message: it was time for Zelensky to leave.
“The Ukrainians were holding nearby in a separate room. (That’s standard for foreign leader visits.) Typically they reconvene for lunch. But the Ukrainians would not be dining at the White House. As the prepared food sat nearby on carts in a hallway, the Ukrainians were instructed to leave.
“The White House official said the Ukrainians wanted to continue the talks. But they were told no. Zelensky left shortly thereafter.”
Mr Trump’s post was rapidly shared on X by Mr Vance, while X owner Elon Musk, a close ally of Mr Trump, posted: “Zelensky destroyed himself in the eyes of the American people.”
The last 10 minutes of the nearly 45-minute engagement devolved into a tense back and forth between Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Mr Zelensky – who had urged skepticism about Russia’s commitment to diplomacy, citing Moscow’s years of broken commitments on the global stage.
It began with Mr Vance calling for “diplomacy”, prompting Mr Zelensky to ask: “What kind of diplomacy, JD, you are speaking about? What do you mean?”
Mr 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.”
Mr Zelensky tried to object, prompting Trump to raise his voice and say: “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.”