Zelenskyy ‘Disrespected America’ and Is ‘Not Ready for Peace,’ Says Trump After Heated Oval Office Clash

In a dramatic turn of events, United States President Donald Trump abruptly ended a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday, February 28, stating that the Ukrainian leader is “not ready” for peace with Russia. The Oval Office meltdown cast serious doubts over the prospects of a US-brokered truce to end the three-year conflict.

“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… pic.twitter.com/CtnqXBNcW3

— President Donald J. Trump (@POTUS) February 28, 2025

Originally, Zelensky was scheduled for a full White House visit to sign a significant US-Ukrainian agreement for the joint exploitation of Ukraine’s mineral resources. The deal was meant to be a cornerstone of Ukraine’s post-war recovery strategy within the framework of a broader peace settlement facilitated by Washington.

Instead of a ceremonial signing, the Oval Office witnessed a heated confrontation between Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Zelensky. According to insiders, Trump and Vance accused Zelensky of not showing enough gratitude for US support in Ukraine’s battle against the Russian invasion. Trump reportedly warned, “You’re either going to make a deal or we’re out. And if we’re out, you’ll fight it out, and I don’t think it’s going to be pretty.”

Zelensky departed shortly afterward, skipping a planned joint press conference. The anticipated resources agreement remained unsigned, underscoring the diplomatic fallout. Trump later criticized Zelensky on his Truth Social platform, stating, “He disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office. He can come back when he is ready for Peace.”

The Oval Office clash followed Trump’s assertion that Ukraine would need to make “compromises” to reach a truce with Russia. With Russian forces occupying large parts of Ukraine and widespread destruction across the nation, Trump’s comments sparked concern. “You can’t do any deals without compromises. So certainly he’s going to have to make some compromises, but hopefully they won’t be as big as some people think,” Trump remarked.

Zelensky, however, held firm. Presenting images of war atrocities and referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin, he argued against any concessions. “There should be no compromises with a killer on our territory,” he said, highlighting war crimes and the deportation of Ukrainian children by Russian forces during the prolonged conflict.

The breakdown in talks marks a significant setback for Trump’s attempts to position himself as a mediator in the Russia-Ukraine war. European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, had visited Washington earlier in the week, urging Trump to maintain a strong pro-Ukraine stance.