US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s Oval Office meeting descended into an extraordinary row over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, as the American leader accused Zelensky of “gambling with World War 3”.
As Zelensky and Trump met in Washington to negotiate a possible peace deal between Putin and Ukraine, the two leaders locked horns as Trump told the Ukrainian leader that he “isn’t in a good position right now”.
The spat was triggered after Zelensky told Trump’s Vice President JD Vance that America “does not feel” the consequences of Russia’s invasion due to their “nice ocean”, but suggested that the nation will “feel it in the future”.
Infuriated by the remark, Trump interjected Zelensky and warned him not to “dictate what we are going to feel”, declaring that Ukraine “does not have the cards right now”.
Donald Trump told Zelensky he is ‘gambling with World War 3’
Zelensky was grilled by both Trump and Vance as the meeting devolved into a shouting match between world leaders
Vance grilled Zelensky: “Have you said thank you once this entire meeting? In this entire meeting, have you said thank you?
“You went to Pennsylvania and campaigned for the opposition in October. Offer some words of appreciation for the United States of America and the President who’s trying to save your country.”
As Zelensky attempted to defend himself, claiming that the war will not be solved be people “speaking loudly”, Trump shut down the President again, declaring his country is in “big trouble”.
Trump told Zelensky: “Wait a minute, you’ve done a lot of talking. Your country is in big trouble, you’re not winning. You’re not winning this. You have a damn good chance of coming out, okay, because of us.
The spat could leave a vital US-Ukraine minerals deal in jeopardyREUTERS
“Mr President, we are staying in our country, staying strong. From the very beginning of the war we have been alone, and we are thankful.”
Hitting back at Zelensky further, Trump warned Zelensky that his “people are dying” and he “has to be thankful” to the US and other world nations for their support.
Trump stated: “You have to be thankful, you don’t have the cards. You’re buried there, your people are dying.
“You’re running low on soldiers. If you didn’t have our military equipment, this war would have been over in two weeks.”
