DONALD Trump has branded Volodymyr Zelensky “disrespectful” and told him “you are gambling with World War 3” as crunch White House talks have fallen apart.
A brutal three-way shouting match has erupted between Zelensky, Trump and Vice President JD Vance in an historic Oval Office row.
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The minerals deal will now not be signed after a scheduled press conference was cancelled following the shouting match and Zelensky has since left the White House.
Trump and Vance accused Zelensky of not being “thankful” for America’s military support and said the Ukrainian must cut a deal with Vladimir Putin.
The trio sat forward in their seats, pointed at each other, and threw their arms around as the shouting erupted when Zelensky pushed back.
Trump yelled at Zelensky: “You’re gambling with millions of people seeing you gambling with World War Three. You’re gambling with World War Three.”
Trump said: “Your people are very brave, but you’re either going to make a deal or we’re out, and if we’re out, you’ll fight it out.
“People are dying … you’re running low on soldiers.
“You don’t have the cards. Once we sign that deal, you’re in a much better position. But you’re not acting at all thankful, and that’s not a nice thing. I’ll be honest. That’s not a nice thing.”
The Russian tyrant will be watching with glee as the momentous bust up could jeopardise the entire war effort.
Zelensky met Trump at the door to the White House and shook the President’s hand as the high-stakes meeting got underway.
But things turned south in the Oval Office when the row erupted after Zelensky pushed back on having to compromise with Russia in peace talks.
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In a follow-up statement, Trump told Zelensky: “He can come back when he is ready for Peace”
“I have determined that President Zelenskyy is not ready for Peace if America is involved, because he feels our involvement gives him a big advantage in negotiations,” Trump wrote.
“I don’t want advantage, I want PEACE.”
Zelensky had been scheduled to have lunch with Trump and both leaders were going to sign a minerals deal during a joint news conference.
Trump had previously slammed Zelensky just last week for being a “dictator” and a “moderately successful” comedian who had “talked the US into a war that couldn’t be won”.
Zelensky is there to discuss and sign a minerals deal with Washington DC which Trump sees as crucial to paying America back for all its military support.
Follow our live blog below for the latest news and updates…
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Zelensky set to leave Oval Office
Volodymyr Zelensky’s motorcade is now waiting back aside the West Wing after he cancelled the press conference.
Zelensky is set to leave – with the minerals deal unsigned.
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Trump releases statement
Trump has released a statement following the explosive row.
He said “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 America is involved, because he feels our involvement gives him a big advantage in negotiations.
“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.”
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Zelensky is ‘running out of soldiers’, Trump says
Trump has told Zelensky he’s “running out of soldiers” during the Oval Office row.
As the heated exchange devolved into a shouting match, trump said Zelensky didn’t hold the cards to keep fighting.
“I don’t think it’s going to be pretty, but you’ll fight it out, but you don’t have the cards.”
But Trump also told Zelensky that his soldiers have been unbelievably brave and that the US wants to see an end to the fighting and the money put to “different kinds of use like rebuilding.”
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Moment shouting match breaks out between leaders
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Trump and Vance blast Zelensky as ‘disrespectful’
US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky clashed in an extraordinary shouting match in the Oval Office Friday, leaving efforts to end the war with Russia hanging in the balance.
“You’re either going to make a deal or we’re out,” a furious Trump told Zelensky.
Tempers frayed after Vice President JD Vance said that “diplomacy” was needed to end the war.
Zelensky asked “what kind of diplomacy” and Vance then accused him of being “disrespectful” in the president’s office.
Ukraine’s leader told Trump promises of peace from mad Vlad could not be trusted, noting the Russian leader’s history of broken promises.
Trump brushed this off and told Zelensky: “You’ve got to be more thankful.”
Vance asked Zelenksy: “Have you said ‘thank you’ once?”
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Trump shouts at Zelensky
Donald Trump accused Volodymyr Zelensky of “gambling with World War Three” as the two presidents met in the Oval Office.
In a series of testy exchanges, Zelensky warned the US would “feel it in the future” if it did not continue to support Ukraine.
Trump hit back: “Don’t tell us what we’re going to feel. We’re trying to solve a problem.”
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Zelensky folds his arms during tense moment
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Zelensky and Trump in White House clash
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Trump tell Zelensky he is “gambling with WW3”
Donald Trump has told Volodymyr Zelensky during their face-to-face meeting that he is “gambling with WW3”.
Voices are being raised in the Oval Office with Associated Press calling the meeting a “clash”.
The video from the meeting is yet to be released and will be so after the Oval Office meeting ends.
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Trump reveals more Putin talks
Donald Trump has revealed during the Oval Office meeting that he has spoken to Vladimir Putin “numerous” times.
He has also said: “I’m not aligned with Putin, I’m aligned with the US and the good of the world.”
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Oval Office talks get animated
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Trump says he is for both Ukraine and Russia
Donald Trump has claimed during the Oval Office meeting he is “in the middle” between the two fighting countries.
He said: “I’m for both Ukraine and Russia… I want to get it solved.”
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Ukraine will have to make compromises, Trump says
Donald Trump has told Volodymyr Zelensky that Ukraine will have to make compromises as part of a peace deal.
Trump said: “You will always have to make compromises and certainly he [Zelensky] will have to make compromises.”
But he has pledged that the US will continue to send arms to Ukraine.
Trump also quipped: “Hopefully we won’t have to send much”.
But Zelensky told Trump there should be “no compromises” with Russian President Vladimir Putin as the parties negotiate to end the war after Moscow’s invasion.
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Zelensky shows Trump pictures of starved prisoners
Zelensky showed Trump pictures of war atrocities during their meeting in the Oval Office.
The pictures appeared to be prisoners who had been captured by Russia had had been starved during their imprisonment.
Zelensky said there should be “no compromises with a killer on our territory.” He also added that “I think President Trump is on our side.
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Peace close, Trump says
US President Donald Trump told his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office that a truce with Russia is “fairly close”.
Trump has also pledged to Zelensky that Ukrainians “won’t go back to fighting” after a peace deal is signed with Moscow.
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White House prepares for Zelensky arrival
The flag bearers are now outside the White House entrance that Zelensky will arrive to as they await for the leader – who is running late.
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Live stream is now running
The Sun’s live stream is now running from outside the West Wing of the White House.
Click on our player above to watch Volodymyr Zelensky arrive in a few minutes time to meet Donald Trump.
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Moment Trump is asked about ‘dictator’ jibe
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Zelensky has visited Oval Office twice before
Volodymyr Zelensky is no stranger to the Oval Office, having visited Joe Biden there twice.
He met the Democrat in December 2022 and in September 2024 as he asked for more help from the Americans.
In the 2022 meeting, Zelensky handed Biden the Ukrainian Cross for Military Merit for America’s backing against the Russian invasion.
Zelensky mentioned this particular medal was awarded earlier that year to a Ukrainian officer for outstanding feats on the battlefield.
The officer met Zelensky in Bakhmut and asked him to give his medal to President Biden as a token of his profound gratitude.
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