White House talks break down as Trump accuses Zelenskyy of ‘disrespecting’ US
White House talks between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy over ending the war between Moscow and Kyiv have broken down after the US president said his Ukrainian counterpart had “disrespected” America.
The dramatic and premature conclusion to the summit came after the two leaders clashed even before the start of their formal meeting, as the Ukrainian president’s bid to improve strained ties with Washington spectacularly backfired.
In a post on Truth Social following the meeting, Trump wrote: “I have determined that President Zelenskyy is not ready for Peace.”
“He disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office. He can come back when he is ready for Peace,” he added.
During an earlier meeting in front of reporters in the Oval Office, Trump told Zelenskyy: “You don’t have the cards right now with us, you start having problems right now. You’re gambling with the lives of millions of people. You’re gambling with world war three.”
Vice-president JD Vance said: “Do you think that it’s respectful to come to the Oval Office of the United States of America and attack the administration that is trying to prevent the destruction of your country?”
The Ukrainian leader responded: “Everybody has problems, even you but you have nice ocean and don’t feel [it] now, but you will feel it in the future.”
Zelenskyy has been seeking a seat at the negotiating table after Trump blindsided Kyiv and other European capitals by launching direct talks with Putin over ending the conflict.
The leaders had planned to use the meeting to sign a minerals deal that would set up a joint US-Ukrainian “investment fund” that would receive 50 per cent of all revenues from the “future monetisation” of natural resources owned by Kyiv.