Zelensky storms out of White House after furious row with Trump

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stormed out of the White House after President Donald Trump yelled at him to make a deal with Russia or count the US out.

‘You’re either going to make a deal or we’re out,’ Trump told Zelensky on Friday in the Oval Office.

‘If we’re out, you’ll fight it out. I don’t think it will be pretty.’

Trump also told Zelensky ‘you’re not acting at all thankful’ and that the meeting would make ‘great television’ after it concludes.

The US president had the angriest demeanor he’s displayed in some time.

Trump said the Russia-Ukraine war ‘could lead to a third world war’ if he had not won the November election.

The US president refused to commit to providing security guarantees to Ukraine.

‘I’m not worried about security,’ he said, adding that he is focused on ‘getting the deal done’.

‘I don’t think you’re going to need much security,’added Trump.

‘Russia is not going to want to go back, nobody’s going to want to go back.’

Zelensky was invited to the White House to sign a landmark minerals deal.

Trump greeted Zelensky outside of the West Wing shortly after 11am, shook his hand and pointed at him momentarily.

The US president wore his signature dark blue suit with a white dress shirt and red tie while his Ukrainian counterpart, who typically dresses more casually, wore black pants and a black shirt with buttons.

‘He’s all dressed up,’ said Trump.

Zelensky said that Russian President Vladimir Putin must be stopped and ‘I want to discuss what the US will be ready to do’.

As the talks began, Zelensky said he believed Trump is ‘on our side’, but Trump through his statements clearly sided with Putin.

Trump said ‘he’s in the middle’ of a big ‘mess’ and a businessperson who is aiming to make a deal.

‘If this doesn’t get solved now it’s not going to get solved (for a long time)’, he said.

‘If we can’t solve it they’re going to have to fight it out and who know’s what’s going to happen.’

When reporters asked Trump about taking sides, he denied leaning toward Russia.

‘I’m aligned with the United States of America, I’m aligned with the world… I’m aligned with Europe,’ Trump said.

He added that Zelensky has ‘got tremendous hatred (towards Putin), I can tell you the other side isn’t exactly in love with him either’.

‘You see the hatred he’s got for Putin — that’s very tough for me to make a deal with that kind of hate,’ Trump said.

Trump said ‘I can be tougher than any human being you’ve seen but you’re never going to’ make a deal that way.

The US president accused Zelensky of ‘gambling with World War 3’.

Zelensky gave a thumbs up as reporters left the Oval Office.

After the combative meeting, Zelensky departed and the joint press conference with Trump was canceled.

Trump in a Truth Social post afterward began that he had a ‘very meaningful meeting’ and then blasted Zelensky.

‘Much was learned that could never be understood without conversation under such fire and pressure,’ wrote Trump.

‘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.’

Zelensky took a more conciliatory approach in a social media post of his own after unexpected turn of events.

‘Thank you America, thank you for your support, thank you for this visit. Thank you @POTUS, Congress, and the American people,’ wrote Zelensky on X (formerly Twitter).

‘Ukraine needs just and lasting peace, and we are working exactly for that.’

Asked if the shouting match was intentional, a senior White House official told NBC News: ‘Ask Zelenskyy if it was intentional.’

A White House official also said: ‘America First happened.’

After the Oval Office showdown, Trump reportedly consulted with Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Treasury Scott Bessent and decided Zelensky was ‘not in a place to negotiate’.

Trump told Rubio to tell his national security adviser Mike Waltz to tell Zelensky it was time to leave, according to CNN. The Ukrainians, who were in a separate room, were told to leave as food was being prepared for a lunch at the White House. The Ukrainians wanted to continue the conversation but were told no, and Zelensky left.

Ukraine had agreed to give 50% of its rare minerals – a large part of the nation’s wealth – to the US. But the deal reportedly was not signed.

Trump has been pushing for the minerals deal since taking office and beginning negotiations to end the war, sparked by the Russian invasion of Ukraine three years ago.

A preliminary minerals agreement revealed earlier this week stated the US and Ukraine would establish a co-owned, jointly managed investment fund to which Ukraine will contribute 50% of future revenues from their resources.

The leaders are also expected to continue chats about Ukrainian security, as Kyiv pushes to ensure a potential US-brokered peace plan would include guarantees for the country’s future.

Many Ukrainians fear that a hastily negotiated peace – especially one that makes too many concessions to Russian demands – would allow Moscow to regroup and prepare for another future invasion.

Mr Trump has framed the emerging deal as a chance for Kyiv to compensate the US for wartime aid sent under former president Joe Biden.

The revenue Ukraine is allowed to keep from the deal would be spent to ‘increase the development, processing and monetization of all public and private Ukrainian assets including, but not limited to, deposits of minerals, hydrocarbons, oil, natural gas, and other extractable materials, infrastructure, ports, and state-owned enterprise.’

Zelensky said earlier this week: ‘This may be part of future security guarantees, but I want to understand the broader vision. What awaits Ukraine?’

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron have said if a truce is drawn up between Russia and Ukraine, they would send troops for a potential peacekeeping mission to ensure no future conflicts occur.

What minerals does Ukraine have?
Some of the rich minerals Ukraine has include graphite, uranium, titanium and lithium, a key component in electric car batteries. Ukraine has the largest lithium resources in all of Europe. Much of the fighting in the war has been centred around areas rich in minerals.

Lanthanum and cerium are used in televisions and lighting – while erbium and yttrium are used in nuclear power and lasers. Since the war in Ukraine began after the 2022 Russian invasion, hundreds of billions in aid have been pledged by the US and other European countries.

The United States soars far above the rest though – with an estimated £120 billion in aid. Germany and the UK come in behind the US in terms of aid. The EU has also donated billions.