President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s Oval Office meeting turned contentious on Friday, with Trump telling Zelenskyy, “You’re gambling with World War III.”
The drama unfolded when Trump said Zelenskyy would be wise to accept a cease-fire from Russian President Vladimir Putin so that the “bullets stop flying and your men stop getting killed.”
Vance also told Zelenskyy to “offer some words of appreciation” for the military and financial support the U.S. has provided Ukraine. He further noted it was “disrespectful” for Zelenskyy to come into the Oval Office and “try to litigate” the Russia-Ukraine war “in front of the American media right now.”
Exact figures on the carnage in Ukraine are hard to come by. The Wall Street Journal, citing a confidential Ukrainian government report in September, reported 80,000 Ukrainians had died and another 400,000 had been wounded in the war. And Newsweek estimated 800,000 Russians have been killed or wounded since 2022.
Last month, the U.S. State Department said it had given $65.9 billion to Ukraine since early 2022, when Russia invaded it. The U.S. has also provided $27.69 billion in military assistance since then, including giving Ukraine guns, radar, anti-aircraft missiles and ammunition, among other items.
“Of course we want to stop the war,” Zelenskyy said as tempers began to flare on Friday. “Please, you think that if you will speak very loudly about the war–” he attempted to say before being cut off.
“He’s not speaking loudly,” Trump told Zelenskyy of Vance. “Your country is in big trouble.”
“I know, I know,” Zelenskyy responded, with Trump ultimately stating, “You’re not winning this.” You can see the full exchange, below:
“We had a very meaningful meeting in the White House today. 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,” Trump wrote on Truth Social after the meeting. “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.”
“Thank you America, thank you for your support, thank you for this visit. Thank you POTUS, Congress, and the American people,” Zelenskyy followed up on X. “Ukraine needs just and lasting peace, and we are working exactly for that.”
Additionally, a reporter for TASS, the Russian state-owned media organization, was “escorted out” of the meeting beforehand. The unnamed reporter was removed by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.
“TASS was not on the approved list of media for today’s pool,” a White House official told TheWrap. “As soon as it came to the attention of press office staff that he was in the Oval, he was escorted out by the Press Secretary. He is not on the approved list for the press conference later this afternoon.”
The aforementioned press conference has since been canceled due to the fight, with the expected mineral deal also being left unsigned.
