Donald Trump tells Volodymyr Zelenskyy ‘you’re gambling with World War Three’ in fiery Oval Office meeting | World News

Donald Trump and JD Vance held a heated meeting with Volodymyr Zelenskyy – which saw the US president tell his Ukrainian counterpart he is “gambling with World War Three”.

Mr Zelenskyy has travelled to the US as he attempts to secure a ceasefire with Russia and a possible mineral deal.

But his visit to the White House has ended prematurely – with the signing of an agreement and a joint press conference with Mr Trump called off following their Oval Office clash.

As the pair met with US vice president JD Vance joining them, tensions soon rose and a shouting match unfolded – all while cameras rolled and representatives from the media looked on.

The last 10 minutes of the almost 45-minute meeting descended into a tense back and forth, which began with Mr Vance telling Mr Zelenksyy: “I think it’s disrespectful for you to come to the Oval Office to try to litigate this in front of the American media.”

“You should be thanking the President [Trump] for trying to bring an end to this conflict,” he said.

As the Ukrainian president tried to object, Mr Trump raised his voice and told him: “You’re gambling with the lives of millions of people.

“You’re gambling with World War Three, and what you’re doing is very disrespectful to the country, this country that’s backed you far more than a lot of people say they should have.”

“You’re right now not in a very good position,” he continued. “You don’t have the cards right now with us, you start having problems right now.”

Mr Zelenskyy openly challenged Mr Trump on his softer approach to Vladimir Putin and urged him to make “no compromises with a killer”.

This fiery spectacle was hard to witness

Deborah Haynes

Security and Defence Editor

@haynesdeborah

The fiery and very public bust-up between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy is a disaster for Ukraine and its European allies, and a triumph for Russia.

The spectacle of the US president berating his Ukrainian counterpart and telling him he is gambling with World War Three – played out on television from the Oval Office – was hard to witness.

Zelenskyy, looking increasingly uncomfortable, decided to fight back. He likely felt he had little choice but to defend himself and his war-torn country.

But this act of defiance drew even more condemnation from Trump as well as from JD Vance, who also started attacking the Ukrainian leader.

It is hard to imagine a greater contrast from the chummy scenes between Sir Keir Starmer and Trump and the scolding language used by the American president against Zelenskyy, at times addressing him as though he were a naughty schoolboy.

Ukraine’s president, his arms crossed, tried his best to speak up, but he was clearly fighting a losing battle. The extraordinary breakdown is far more serious than just a made-for-television drama.

American support for Ukraine is critical if Kyiv is to withstand Russia’s war. The UK, France and Ukraine’s other European allies have been working overtime to try to keep Trump on their side.

The US president has vowed to end the war and started talks with Vladimir Putin. The two presidents also plan to meet. That alone was hard for Ukraine to witness.

But the Ukrainian side has attempted to work with Washington rather than against it, including by being willing to part with profits from its minerals and other natural resources in return for locking Trump into a long-term partnership with Ukraine.

That all looks to be shattered – or at best is in serious jeopardy.

If Trump, in anger, withdraws all his military support to Ukraine, Kyiv’s ability to withstand Russia’s military will be seriously diminished.

The Europeans lack the capability to fill the void. The only person who wins in this scenario is Vladimir Putin.

Posting on his Truth Social platform shortly after the clash, Mr Trump described the meeting as “very meaningful” and said: “Much was learned that could never be understood without conversation under such fire and pressure.

“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.

He continued: “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.”

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