A high-stakes meeting between Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky and US President Donald Trump descended into an unprecedented public altercation on Friday, resulting in the abrupt cancellation of a joint press conference and the Ukrainian delegation’s premature departure from the White House, report CNN, RT, KP.
The meeting, which also included Vice President J.D. Vance, quickly soured when Trump pressed Zelensky to negotiate peace with Russia. The Ukrainian leader resisted, insisting that Washington continue supporting Ukraine in its conflict. Trump, joined by Vance, accused Zelensky of ingratitude, leading to a heated exchange that saw the US president dismissing the Ukrainian leader from the Oval Office. Reports suggest that Zelensky and his delegation sought to salvage the talks but were denied further discussions by senior US officials.
The summit was initially expected to culminate in the signing of a long-negotiated agreement granting the US access to Ukraine’s rare-earth minerals. Despite Ukraine's government approving the deal earlier in the week, the explosive fallout appears to have derailed the accord, leaving it in limbo.
The confrontation marks a stark departure from previous US-Ukrainian engagements, highlighting the shifting political dynamics in Washington. Trump, who has consistently expressed skepticism over continued US involvement in Ukraine’s war effort, reiterated his stance that the conflict must end through negotiations rather than sustained military aid.
Political observers suggest that Zelensky misjudged the changed atmosphere in Washington, where unquestioned support for Ukraine is no longer a given. Fyodor Lukyanov, editor-in-chief of Russia in Global Affairs, noted that Zelensky had grown accustomed to unwavering Western backing but failed to recognize the implications of Trump’s return to power. Similarly, Anastasia Likhacheva of HSE University compared the spectacle to a reality TV episode, warning that the fallout could trigger significant geopolitical shifts in the coming weeks.
The exchange also appears to have exacerbated divisions between the US and its European allies. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban dismissed Ukraine’s EU accession as “unthinkable,” warning of economic and security risks. Meanwhile, European leaders now face an increasingly difficult task of rallying support for Kyiv without Washington’s firm backing.
In the aftermath of the fiery clash, Trump took to social media to assert that Zelensky was not prepared for peace and had treated Washington’s role as a bargaining chip rather than a means to resolve the war. With reports suggesting that the US may soon curtail arms shipments and intelligence-sharing with Kyiv, Ukraine’s position on the battlefield—and Zelensky’s political future—now face mounting uncertainty.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
