A high-stakes meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy erupted into a shouting match on Friday, creating a tense and unprecedented scene in the Oval Office.
During the negotiations, which centered on ending the three-year-long Russia-Ukraine war, Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance repeatedly pressed Zelenskyy to accept a peace deal, leading to a heated exchange.
Zelenskyy, seeking stronger U.S. security commitments to deter further Russian aggression, pushed back—only for Trump to cut him off.
At one point, the discussion turned into a verbal clash, with all three men raising their voices.
"You're not in a good position. You don't have the cards right now. With us, you start having cards …," Trump insisted.
"I'm not playing cards—" Zelenskyy attempted to respond.
"Right now, you are playing cards. You're gambling with the lives of millions of people," Trump shot back. "You're gambling with World War III, and what you're doing is very disrespectful to this country—this country that's backed you far more than a lot of people say they should have."
Following the fiery confrontation, Zelenskyy left the White House early, and a planned joint news conference was abruptly canceled. Trump is set to depart Washington for his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida later in the day.
A particularly tense moment came when Trump and Vance questioned whether Zelenskyy had shown sufficient gratitude for U.S. support.
Trump delivered an ultimatum:
“Make a deal or we’re out.”
Vance, sitting across from Zelenskyy, demanded an acknowledgment of U.S. aid.
"Have you said thank you once? In this entire meeting, have you said thank you? … Offer some words of appreciation for the U.S.A. and the president who's trying to save your country," Vance urged, pointing at the Ukrainian leader.
The dramatic exchange marks one of the most publicly contentious moments in U.S.-Ukraine relations since the war began, raising new questions about America’s future role in the conflict.
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