Tensions Escalate After Heated Oval Office Exchange
President Trump on Monday intensified his criticism of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, warning that he “won’t be around very long” if he refuses to negotiate a peace deal with Russia. The remark further deepened the growing rift between the two leaders following a tense Oval Office meeting on Friday.
Trump’s comments came after Zelensky stated on Sunday that ending the war with Russia remained “very, very far away.”
“Everybody has to get into a room, so to speak, and we have to make a deal, and the deal can be made very fast,” Trump said at the White House. “Now, maybe somebody doesn’t want to make a deal, and if somebody doesn’t want to make a deal, I think that person won’t be around very long. That person will not be listened to very long. Because I believe that Russia wants to make a deal. I believe, certainly, the people of Ukraine want to make a deal.”
Trump Slams Zelensky’s Stance on War
Hours earlier, Trump attacked Zelensky on Truth Social, condemning his comments about the ongoing war.
“This is the worst statement that could have been made by Zelenskyy [sic], and America will not put up with it for much longer!” Trump wrote.
“It is what I was saying, this guy doesn’t want there to be peace as long as he has America’s backing. Europe, in the meeting they had with Zelenskyy [sic], stated flatly that they cannot do the job without the U.S. – Probably not a great statement to have been made in terms of a show of strength against Russia. What are they thinking?”
Zelensky Tries to Clarify Remarks
Amid mounting pressure, Zelensky attempted to clarify his position on Monday, tweeting, “Peace is needed as soon as possible” and stressing the importance of diplomacy to end the war swiftly.
The latest exchange between the two leaders comes at a critical time, as U.S. support for Ukraine’s defense faces growing uncertainty. Tensions were further fueled by a heated argument between Zelensky and Vice President JD Vance during the contentious Oval Office meeting.
“You’re either going to make a deal, or we’re out, and if we’re out, you’ll fight it out,” Trump said during the confrontation. “I don’t think it’s going to be pretty.”
Mining Deal Falls Apart Amid Diplomatic Clash
Trump and Zelensky were originally set to sign a mineral-rights framework deal that would have given the U.S. a stake in Ukraine’s rare earth elements. However, the agreement was left unsigned, and Zelensky’s visit was cut short.
National Security Adviser Mike Waltz later described Zelensky’s conduct in the Oval Office as an “insult” and said officials determined the summit could not continue. Trump reiterated on Truth Social that Zelensky could “come back when he is ready for peace.”
The proposed mining deal had been a key component of Trump’s strategy to offset the cost of U.S. military aid while simultaneously providing Ukraine with security guarantees by ensuring an American presence on the ground.
European Leaders Discuss Peacekeeping Mission
French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer visited the White House last week, where they discussed deploying peacekeeping troops to Ukraine after the fighting ends. Their plan aims to prevent further aggression from Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Tensions between Trump and Zelensky have been escalating since the U.S. president returned to office on Jan. 20. Trump previously slammed Zelensky on Feb. 19, labeling him a “dictator without elections” and falsely claiming the Ukrainian leader had a 4% approval rating. The criticism came after Zelensky hesitated on the rare-earth framework deal and objected to U.S.-Russia diplomatic talks in Saudi Arabia that excluded him.
Zelensky, in turn, accused Trump of operating in a “disinformation space” after Trump suggested that Ukraine had “started” the three-year-old war.
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