Donald Trump‘s meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House on Friday went off the rails. The two leaders and Vice President JD Vance came together to talk about a minerals deal, which they hope would strengthen the economic partnership between the two countries. However, the meeting turned into a heated argument and ended with Trump going to social media to say that Zelenskyy was disrespectful.
“He disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, his social media platform, according to Axios. “He can come back when he is ready for Peace.”
Friday’s meeting started with the two leaders making statements and taking questions from reporters. One reporter asked Trump why he continued to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin while distancing himself from Ukraine.
“You want me to say really terrible things about Putin and then say, ‘hi, Vladimir. How are we doing on the deal?’ It doesn’t work that way,” Trump said in response, per Axios.
The President added that he has a problem with Zelenskyy’s “tremendous hatred” toward Putin.
“It is very tough for me to make a deal with that kind of hate,” he said. “I understand that, but I can tell you the other side isn’t exactly in love with him, either.”
As Vance suggested that the war must end through diplomacy, Zelenskyy asked for clarification.
“What kind of diplomacy, JD, are you talking about?” he asked.
Vance, who took issue with the Ukrainian leader criticizing Putin, said Zelenskyy is leading them on “propaganda tours.”
“I think it’s disrespectful for you to come into the Oval Office, litigating in front of the American media,” Vance told Zelenskyy, per Politico. “Right now, you guys are going around and forcing conscripts to the front lines because you have manpower problems, you should be thanking the president for trying to bring an end to this conflict.”
Zelenskyy responded with a warning for the U.S., saying the country may feel the affects of war as well in the future. Trump, however, said Zelenskyy is “in no position to dictate what we’re going to feel.”
“You’re not in a good position … you’re gambling with the lives of millions of people, you’re gambling with World War III … and what you’re doing is very disrespectful to the country, this country, that’s backed you,” Trump told Zelenskyy.
The meeting ended without the leaders signing the minerals deal. Trump has suggested that the U.S. would use the minerals “for all of the things we do, including AI and including weapons and the military,” per Axios.
