Zelenskyy leaves White House early after fiery meeting with Trump, who claims Ukrainian leader isn’t ready for peace

Trump-Zelenskyy talks cut short after heated exchanges in Oval Office – summary

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s visit to the White House has been cut short after he got into a heated exchange with US president Donald Trump and vice-president JD Vance, who accused him of “disrespectful” behaviour during their talks in the Oval Office.
In a social media update, Trump said he has determined that Zelenskyy “is not ready for peace if America is involved, because he feels our involvement gives him a big advantage in negotiations”, and said the Ukrainian leader “disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office”. “He can come back when he is ready for peace,” he added.
In their earlier talks, Trump repeatedly told Zelenskyy that he was “gambling with the lives of millions, with the third world war”, and told him to stop holding out for further security guarantees saying “you’re either going to make a deal or we are out”.
Trump appeared to draw false equivalence between the two sides of the war and positioning himself “for both Ukraine and Russia” as he pursues a peace deal, in stark contrast to Zelenskyy’s comments about Putin as a “killer” and “terrorist” who invaded Ukraine, and with whom he was not ready to compromise on the Ukrainian territory.
The pair repeatedly clashed over their view of Russia and the negotiations, as well as the extent of the European support for Ukraine.
JD Vance also falsely accused Zelenskyy for not thanking the US for its support and “campaigning for the opposition in October,” instead of showing “words of appreciation for the US and the president who is trying to save your country.”
Zelenskyy has left the White House moments ago, with the press conference between the two leaders, where they were expected to sign a deal on minerals, also cancelled.

In full: Zelenskyy and Trump meeting descends into heated argument in front of the press – video

Key events

Russian drones struck a medical facility and triggered a fire late on Friday in Ukraine’s second largest city, Kharkiv, and also hit several other targets, according to Kharkiv mayor Ihor Terekhov.

Drones also hit an area near a filling station and a building close to a high-rise apartment building, Reuters reports, citing Terekhov.

Kharkiv Oblast governor Oleh Syniehubov said all the strikes were in central districts of the city and emergency crews were working at the different sites.

Starmer expresses ‘unwavering support’ for Ukraine after calls with Trump and Zelenskyy

The UK’s prime minister Keir Starmer has spoken to Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday, Downing Street said.

Starmer “retains unwavering support for Ukraine, and is doing all he can to find a path forward to a lasting peace based on sovereignty and security for Ukraine”, a No 10 spokesperson said, adding:

The prime minister looks forward to hosting international leaders on Sunday including President Zelenskyy.

Italy’s prime minister Giorgia Meloni has called for an immediate summit between the US, Europe and allies to discuss how “to deal with the great challenges of today, starting with Ukraine”.

“Every division of the west makes us all weaker and favours those who would like to see the decline of our civilisation,” Meloni said in a statement.

A summit without delay is needed between the United States, European states and their allies to talk frankly about how we intend to tackle today’s major challenges, starting with Ukraine, which together we have defended in recent years.

US considering ending all military aid to Ukraine – report

The Trump administration is considering ending all ongoing shipments of military aid to Ukraine after a meeting between Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Donald Trump in the Oval Office, the Washington Post reports.

The decision, if taken, would apply to billions of dollars of radars, vehicles, ammunition and missiles awaiting shipment to Ukraine through the presidential drawdown authority, the outlet reports, citing a senior US official.

The announcement comes in response to Zelenskyy’s remarks in the White House and “perceived intransigence in the peace process”, the paper writes.

According to the Post, the US official “pushed back on the notion” that the confrontation between Trump and his vice president JD Vance with Zelenskyy was premeditated.

David Smith

“This is going to be great television,” Donald Trump remarked at the end. Sure. And the captain of the Titanic probably assured his passengers that this would make a great movie some day.

Trump has just presided over one of the greatest diplomatic disasters in modern history. Tempers flared, voices were raised and protocol was shredded in the once hallowed in the Oval Office.

As Trump got into a shouting match with Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy, a horrified Europe watched the post-second world war order crumble before its eyes.

Never before has a US president bullied and berated an adversary, never mind an ally, in such a public way. Of course reality TV star and wrestling fan turned US president had it all play out on television for the benefit of his populist support base – and a certain bare-chested chum in the Kremlin.

Read the full report from the Guardian’s DC bureau chief: Bullying, berating Trump shows his worst self in Zelenskyy ambush

Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the Oval Office with Donald Trump and JD Vance on Friday. Photograph: Brian Snyder/Reuters

Hungary’s prime minister Viktor Orbán has stood out from among his European colleagues for publicly expressing his support for Donald Trump after his meeting with Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House.

Orbán, a longtime Trump ally, cast Zelenskyy as working against peace in his own country in a social media post.

“Strong men make peace, weak men make war,” he wrote.

Today President Donald Trump stood bravely for peace. Even if it was difficult for many to digest. Thank you, Mr. President!

Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban and Donald Trump posing for photographs during their meeting in Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida in July 2024. Photograph: Zoltan Fischer HANDOUT/EPA

Gen Oleksandr Syrskyi, commander-in-chief of Ukraine’s armed forces, said his forces stood with president Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Syrskyi, who rarely makes political statements, said:

The armed forces are with Ukraine, with the people, with the supreme commander-in-chief. Our strength is in unity. We continue to destroy the occupier, bringing victory closer. Glory to Ukraine!

Zelenskyy thanks European leaders for outpouring of support after Trump clash

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has thanked world leaders for their support after his meeting with Donald Trump, which devolved into a shouting match and the cancellation of a joint press conference scheduled for this afternoon.

Zelenskyy has taken to X, formerly Twitter, to thank leaders who have posted their support on the social media platform.

They include the leaders of Germany, Spain, France, Poland, Sweden, Norway, Moldova, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Denmark, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Czech Republic, Finland, Portugal, Croatia, the European Parliament, the European Commission and European Council.

Faisal Ali

Following Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s argument with Donald Trump in the White House, UK prime minister Keir Starmer has spoken over the phone with the Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

In a post on social media, the Turkish presidency said the two leaders discussed “regional and global matters”, adding that Turkey wants a “just and lasting peace as soon as possible” to the war in Ukraine.

Earlier this week, Bloomberg reported that Ankara was prepared to send peacekeeping troops to Ukraine to help monitor a ceasefire if one is agreed.

However, a source told the outlet that Turkey would not participate in any mission “unless it is involved in all consultations and preparations regarding its formation”.

Here’s a picture showing empty and tables in the East Room of the White House that were set up for an intended joint press conference and signing ceremony with Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

As we reported earlier, Zelenskyy’s planned appearances at the Hudson Institute and the Ukrainian House in DC have also been cancelled.

The press conference was cancelled following a contentious meeting between Zelenskyy, Trump and Vance. Photograph: Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA