A mic was able to capture the final moments of the spat between Trump and Zelenskyy as they butted heads in the White House.
Despite a goal of peace talks to end the Ukraine and Russian war, Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy got rather heated in front of the cameras.
Zelenskyy headed to the White House last week on February 28 and sat down with Trump and Vice President JD Vance to discuss the conflict.
However, Trump reportedly asked the Ukrainian president to leave after they had an animated argument in front of the press in the Oval Office.
Vance argued that Zelenskyy was being disrespectful and should be thanking Trump and the US for its contributions to their war effort.
Zelenskyy retorted by asking “Have you ever been to Ukraine? Seen what problems we have? Come once.”
Trump and Zelenskyy’s argument has made headlines worldwide (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
The Ukrainian president then reflected on how ‘during the war, everyone has problems’ and just because they don’t ‘feel it now’ doesn’t mean they won’t in ‘the future’.
Trump then butts in, arguing he’s ‘trying to solve a problem’ and saying Zelenskyy is in ‘no position’ to tell them ‘what [they’re] going to feel’.
A hot mic reportedly caught President Trump’s orders to his staff before kicking Zelenskyy out.
Trump instructed his aides to take the Ukrainian delegation to the Roosevelt room down the hall and it was here that Zelenskyy and his team were reportedly told Trump wanted them to leave.
Speaking to an aide as press left the room, Trump said: “You’re right, maybe we should [inaudible]. Let’s have a little something…
“Would you bring them to the Roosevelt Room?”
This car crash meeting is already having an impact, as Donald Trump has paused all military aid to Ukraine.
Trump has called for all financial aid to Ukraine to stop (SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)
A White House official said: “The president has been clear that he is focused on peace. We need our partners to be committed to that goal as well.
“We are pausing and reviewing our aid to ensure that it is contributing to a solution.”
Zelenskyy has also issued a statement insisting that he is committed towards peace rather than an endless war.
In a statement he said: ”Ukraine is ready to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible to bring lasting peace closer. Nobody wants peace more than Ukrainians. My team and I stand ready to work under President Trump’s strong leadership to get a peace that lasts.”
President Zelenskyy has reflected on his chaotic discussions with Donald Trump last week, and shared what his intention of the meeting was.
Aside from last night’s Oscars, Zelenskyy‘s meeting with Trump is still being widely talked about across the news.
The two heads of state met in Washington on Friday (February 28), and their discussions quickly descended into chaos.
From Zelenskyy being critiqued for his choice of attire to Trump accusing him of ‘gambling with World War 3’, it’s safe to say the meeting could have gone more smoothly.
Ultimately, Zelenskyy ended up leaving the meeting early and the White House was forced to cancel a scheduled press conference.
But the Ukrainian president has since been urged to make amends with Trump by Mark Rutte, NATO secretary general.
After his short time in the US, Zelenskyy jetted to the UK and met with Keir Starmer, as well as King Charles.
His meeting with Starmer went swimmingly, with the British prime minister insisting that Ukraine had the country’s ‘full backing’.
But, ahead of leaving London yesterday (March 2), Zelenskyy was asked further about his meeting with Trump.
Speaking to reporters at Stansted Airport, he reflected on his meeting with Trump and insisted that he ‘just want[s] the Ukrainian position to be heard’.
“We want our partners to remember who the aggressor is in this war,” Zelenskyy went on, as per Mail Online.
“We need peace, not endless war,” he added.
“In the near future, all of us in Europe will shape our common positions — the lines we must achieve and the lines we cannot compromise on.
“These positions will be presented to our partners in the United States.”
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Zelenskyy and Trump’s meeting didn’t go very well (SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)
Like Rutte, Britain’s ambassador to the US, Lord Mandelson, has also encouraged Zelenskyy to make peace with Trump.
“After what happened on Friday, it’s clear that we need to bring the United States and Ukraine together again,” he said, The Telegraph reports.
“I think the first thing that President Zelenskyy can do is to make clear his commitment to the initiative that President Trump is taking.”
Mandelson went on: “I do think it would be a good idea if he signed an economic and commercial deal put forward by the United States.
“The reason I say that quite apart from the economic gain that Ukraine will derive from that, it will also give the United States a stake in Ukraine’s future: it will mean that US commercial interests, US individual citizens will be on the ground there, and that will be an even greater added incentive for the US to protect Ukraine in future and make sure that war does not ensue again.
“That’s what I want to see, that’s what we all want to see.”
The deal Mandelson’s referring to is the idea that the two countries jointly invest in Ukraine’s critical minerals and other valuable resources.
President Zelenskyy has brutal response when asked why he didn’t wear a suit to White House
The Ukrainian president was criticized for not wearing a suit when meeting with Donald Trump
Volodymyr Zelenskyy was accused of being ‘disrespectful’ for not wearing a suit to the White House.
Zelenskyy was invited to President Trump‘s official residence on Friday (February 28), and their meeting quickly descended into chaos.
One of the key topics of debate was Ukraine‘s ongoing war with Russia, which first began in February 2022 when the Russians invaded Zelenskyy’s country.
According to the BBC, 95,000 people fighting for Russia’s military have now died as the war, while over 46,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed on the battlefield, says The Kyiv Independant.
Russia’s war on Ukraine has been ongoing since February 2022 (Diego Herrera Carcedo/Anadolu via Getty Images)
With the thousands of lives lost, heads of state from across the globe are keen to bring an end to the conflict — Trump included.
Away from his relationship with Putin, Zelenskyy was invited by Trump to the White House on Friday, but it started off on a bad foot in light of Zelenskyy not wearing a suit.
“He is all dressed up today,” Trump said of his guest as the pair entered the West Wing.
Apparently, Zelenskyy ignored people’s advice to dress more formally for the meeting, Sky News reports.
Several members of the press were at the Oval Office meeting, where one reporter, Brian Glenn, asked Zelenskyy: “Why don’t you wear a suit? You’re at the highest level in this country’s office, and you refuse to wear a suit. Do you own a suit?”
Zelenskyy and Trump’s meeting turned heated (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
Since the war started, Zelenskyy has been seen sporting all-black, military-style attire to official meetings.
Responding to Glenn’s jibe, the Ukrainian president said: “I will wear a suit after this war is over. Maybe something like yours. Maybe better, maybe cheaper.”
He went on to say that he was more interested in talking about the serious issues at hand.
But Glenn’s dressing down of Zelenskyy didn’t stop there.
The MAGA enthusiast, who is dating controversial congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, then took to Twitter to speak on the matter further.
The Ukrainian president was criticized for not wearing a suit (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Part of the post read: “I have extreme empathy for the people of Ukraine and all of those involved in this destructive war. The lives that have been lost are precious and that’s something a country can never get back. The war needs to end.
“With that said, the United States has given Ukraine over $120b (some say it’s close to 300b) in assistance. That’s hard earned tax dollars from Americans. (Which most Americas are against funding).
“President Zelenskyy has worn the green jumpsuit (or something similar) on every occasion when meeting other world leaders, dressed respectfully for the occasion.”
Glenn added that ‘you can judge a book by its cover’.
A meeting between President Zelenskyy and Donald Trump earlier this week didn’t go very well.
On Friday (February 28), the Ukrainian president jetted to Washington DC to meet with President Trump and his vice-president JD Vance.
Trump has invited several heads of state to the White House in recent weeks, including UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and France’s Emmanuel Macron.
While these meetings seem to go reasonably well, the same can’t be said for Zelenskyy and Trump’s conversation, where the 78-year-old accused Zelenskyy of ‘gambling with World War 3’ amid the country’s ongoing war with Russia.
“You don’t have the cards right now,” Trump said to the Ukrainian. “With us, you start having cards … You’re gambling with the lives of millions of people! You’re gambling with World War 3! You’re gambling with World War 3. And what you’re doing is very disrespectful to the country — this country.”
See their heated discussion here:
In light of their chaotic meeting, Mark Rutte, NATO secretary general, has weighed in on the matter and labeled the whole thing ‘unfortunate’.
The head of the military alliance said he was sure Trump was ‘committed to bring Ukraine to a durable peace’ and committed to NATO.
Rutte also urged Zelenskyy to restore his relationship with the US president.
Speaking of a phone call he had with the Ukrainian leader on Friday, he said: “What I told to President Zelenskyy is that I said, I think you have to find a way, dear Volodymyr, to restore your relationship with Donald Trump and the American administration.
“That is important going forward.”
NATO secretary general Mark Rutte has urged Zelenskyy to make amends with Trump (Johannes Simon/Getty Images)
Zelenskky is currently in the UK, where he received a warm welcome from Starmer, who assured him that he has ‘have full backing across the United Kingdom’.
“Let me just say that you’re very, very welcome here in Downing Street,” he told the Ukrainian President who has now been at war with Russia for three years.
Starmer went on: “That is the people of the United Kingdom coming out to demonstrate how much they support you, how much they support Ukraine, and our absolute determination to stand with you – unwavering determination – and to achieve what we both want to achieve, which is a lasting peace.”
Zelenskyy met with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer yesterday (PETER NICHOLLS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
“A lasting peace for Ukraine based on sovereignty and security for Ukraine – so important for Ukraine, so important for Europe and so important for the United Kingdom,” the British prime minster added.
Zelenskyy is reportedly set to meet with King Charles today (March 2), during his visit to England.
The Kremlin has made a shocking statement about President Zelenskyy after Donald Trump accused him of ‘gambling with World War 3.’
The US President, Donald Trump, met with the Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, at the White House’s Oval Office in Washington DC on Friday (February 28) which quickly descended into a heated disagreement that has stumped viewers across the world.
Trump could be heard raising his voice towards Zelenskyy who had been talking about the war in Ukraine, and suggested he appeared ungrateful for the many years of US support.
Trump also warned him that he risks sparking another world war with the ongoing conflict.
The US President said: “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.”
Meanwhile, the US Vice President JD Vance also accused Zelenskyy of being disrespectful to both the US and towards the POTUS and said he ought to be ‘thanking’ America for ‘trying to bring an end’ to the conflict.
Zelenskyy was told to leave the White House early before the two leaders could sit down for a news conference.
The Kremlin has since spoken out about the two president’s butting heads – saying it is proof Ukraine won’t come easily before a peace deal.
Trump commented that Zelenskyy appeared ungrateful (SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)
Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: “What happened at the White House on Friday, of course, demonstrated how difficult it will be to reach a settlement trajectory around Ukraine,” reports the NY Post.
“The Kyiv regime and Zelenskyy do not want peace. They want the war to continue,” he continued. “It is very important that someone forces Zelenskyy himself to change his position.”
“Someone has to make Zelenskyy want peace. If the Europeans can do it, they should be honored and praised.”
It’s been three years since Russian forces invaded the country, and allies from across Europe came together in a summit on Sunday to announce a united front and ‘coalition’ of support to Ukraine.
Zelenskyy apparently had a better visit to the UK (Peter Nicholls – WPA Pool/Getty Images)
As many as 18 leaders from around the world attended the summit in the UK with many in agreement that they will continue to flow military aid into Ukraine to boost its defenses while ramping up economic pressure on Russia.
Speaking at the summit, Zelenskyy said: “We are all working together in Europe in order to find a basis for cooperation with America for a true peace and guaranteed security,” reports the BBC.
The president, who flew directly to the UK from the US after the disastrous White House row, also said he was ‘ready’ to sign a US-Ukraine minerals deal but stood firm on any suggestion of Ukraine having to concede territory to Russia.
The Ukrainian president also refused to apologize to Trump after the spat and said the quarrel ‘did not bring anything positive’ towards achieving peace.
