Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke out after a tense exchange with Donald Trump and JD Vance at the White House. The meeting happened earlier today (February 28) in the Oval Office, where Trump, Zelenskyy, and U.S. Vice President JD Vance sat down for what was supposed to be a discussion.
It didn’t take long for things to get heated.
RELATED STORIES
Trump and Vance accuse Zelenskyy of being disrespectful
At one point, Vance went after Zelenskyy, calling him disrespectful — both toward the U.S. and toward Trump himself. He told the Ukrainian president he “should be thanking the president.”
Zelenskyy reminds the US that war affects everyone
Zelenskyy, meanwhile, tried to explain where he was coming from. In a clip from the meeting, he pointed out that “during the war, everyone has problems” and just because people in the U.S. don’t “feel it now” doesn’t mean they won’t in “the future.”
Trump raises his voice and criticizes Zelenskyy
Trump didn’t take that well. He cut in, saying he was “trying to solve a problem” and that Zelenskyy had no business telling them “what [they’re] going to feel.”
Then, raising his voice, Trump went off. “You’re in no position to dictate what we’re going to feel. We’re going to feel very good. We’re going to feel very good and very strong. You’re right now, not in a very good position, you’ve allowed yourself to be in a very bad position.
“You don’t have the cards right now. With us, you start having cards … You’re gambling with the lives of millions of people! You’re gambling with World War Three! You’re gambling with World War III. And what you’re doing is very disrespectful to the country – this country.”
Social media reacts to Trump’s remarks
It didn’t take long for people online to react. One Twitter user summed up their thoughts: “Jesus F**king Christ! Watching Trump yell and demean the Ukrainian President is completely disrespectful. What a disgrace.”
Zelenskyy responds with a message of gratitude
After the meeting, Zelenskyy took to Twitter to respond, but he didn’t fire back. Instead, he kept things diplomatic, thanking the U.S. for its continued support.
“Thank you America, thank you for your support, thank you for this visit. Thank you @POTUS, Congress, and the American people. Ukraine needs just and lasting peace, and we are working exactly for that.”
Trump reflects on the meeting and makes accusations
Not long after, Trump posted his own response on Truth Social, describing the meeting as “meaningful” but also implying Zelenskyy wasn’t really interested in ending the war.
“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 Zelensky is not ready for Peace if America is involved, because he feels our involvement gives him a big advantage in negotiations.”
Trump says Zelenskyy is not welcome back until he is ready for peace
Trump didn’t stop there. He made it clear he wasn’t happy with how things played out and suggested Zelenskyy shouldn’t come back unless he changes his stance.
“I don’t want advantage, I want PEACE. He disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office. He can come back when he is ready for Peace.”
One thing’s for sure — this White House meeting won’t be forgotten anytime soon. Where do you stand on this clash?
