THIS is the moment tensions exploded in the White House as Donald Trump accused Volodymyr Zelensky of “gambling with World War 3”.
In a shocking row inside the Oval Office, talks between the two leaders — and Vice President JD Vance — fell apart after a brutal three-way shouting match.
The pair were set to sign a vital minerals deal, but after the explosive clash, the press conference was scrapped and Zelensky stormed out of the White House.
Trump and Vance blasted Zelensky for failing to show gratitude for America’s military support, demanding that Ukraine cut a deal with Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
The heated exchange saw the trio leaning forward in their seats, pointing fingers, and throwing their arms around in fury.
Trump didn’t hold back, directing his fury straight at Zelensky, saying: “You’re gambling with millions of people seeing you gambling with World War Three. You’re gambling with World War Three.”
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He continued: “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 moment has sent shockwaves through Washington, with Trump’s ultimatum potentially jeopardising the entire war effort.
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Zelensky had been expected to sign a critical minerals deal with the US, which Trump views as essential to securing America’s role in the ongoing conflict.
Zelensky had greeted Trump with a handshake at the door, but the cordiality quickly evaporated in the Oval Office as Zelensky pushed back on compromising with Russia in peace talks.
Following the confrontation, Zelensky was seen leaving the White House, while Trump issued a sharp statement: “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.”
“I don’t want advantage, I want PEACE,” Trump concluded.
Shortly after, Zelensky posted on X: “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.”
The fallout comes just a week after Trump lambasted Zelensky as a “dictator” and a “moderately successful comedian” who had “talked the US into a war that couldn’t be won.”
With the minerals deal now off the table, the future of US-Ukraine relations hangs in the balance.
Ukraine reacts
Back home in Ukraine, the fallout was immediate.
A viral image showed Ukraine’s ambassador to the US, Oksana Markarova, sitting in the Oval Office with her head bowed, her hand covering her eyes in disbelief as Trump shouted over Zelensky.
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Mikola Bielieskov, from Ukraine’s National Institute for Strategic Studies, called the clash “the worst moment in Ukraine-US bilateral relations.”
Meanwhile, the Russian Embassy in London gleefully attempted to rub salt in the wound, posting a picture of Vladimir Putin with the comment: “The first contacts with the new US administration inspire certain hopes.”