During his interview with Fox News’s Bret Baier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskky also addressed worries about how Ukraine has handled the weapons and money it has received from the United States.
In January 2024, Ukrainian authorities said it uncovered a corruption scheme involving the embezzling of $40 million that had been earmarked for weapons purchases.
In a September 2024 report, the Geneva-based Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime detailed a burgeoning arms trafficking market in the war-torn country, including illegal trading of U.S.-made weapons by members of the military.
The Democratic Governors Association released an official statement regarding the breakdown of diplomacy between President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
“Donald Trump and JD Vance used the sacred Oval Office to berate President Zelenskyy for not trusting Vladimir Putin’s word,” the association stated. “Americans must protect our strong democratic values on the world stage instead of undermining President Zelenskyy’s work to fight for his nation and the freedom of his people after being invaded by Russia.
“We, along with millions of Americans, stand united with the Ukrainian people.”
In his interview with Fox News’s Bret Baier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy weighed in on President Donald Trump’s relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin and on growing scrutiny of U.S. aid to Ukraine.
The interview followed a conversation between Zelenskyy, Trump, and U.S. Vice President JD Vance that turned acrimonious. The exchange left a proposed minerals deal between the United States and Ukraine on hold as the Ukrainian leader was asked to depart the White House.
Baier asked Zelenskyy about a comment from Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), who on X accused Trump of being beholden to Putin.
WASHINGTON—Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he had no reason to apologize to President Donald Trump after their heated White House meeting.
During a sit-down interview with Fox News’s Bret Baier, Zelenskyy said he did nothing wrong.
The Ukrainian leader’s comments came after he was asked to leave the White House following a tense exchange with Trump and Vice President JD Vance.
WASHINGTON—President Donald Trump said that cease-fire talks cannot move forward because Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is rejecting the deal with Russia.
“I wanted it to end immediately. I want a cease-fire now,” Trump told reporters before boarding Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House.
“He says, ‘Oh, I don't want a cease-fire,” Trump said, referring to Zelenskyy. “Well, all of a sudden he's a big shot, because he has the U.S. on the side.”
President Donald Trump was asked by a reporter from The Epoch Times’ sister outlet NTD News how long he thought it would take for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to receive another invitation to the White House.
“Well, he says he wants it now. He wants to come back right now, but I can’t do that,” Trump replied as he was departing the White House.
Another reporter asked what Zelenskyy would have to do to earn that invite.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban praised President Donald Trump’s handling of the meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
“Strong men make peace, weak men make war,” Orban wrote in a social media post.
“Today President @realDonaldTrump stood bravely for peace. Even if it was difficult for many to digest. Thank you, Mr. President!”
Former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer shared their rejection of Trump’s handling of his Oval Office meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, suggesting the administration is siding with Russia.
“Putin must be overjoyed with today’s theatrics,” Pelosi said on X. “Following the U.S. vote in alignment with Russia at the United Nations this week, a disturbing pattern has emerged that is contrary to America’s longstanding support of democracy around the world.”
While she does not specify in her post, the U.S. voted against officially calling out Russia’s aggression and demanding immediate withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine, during U.N. resolution votes on Feb. 24.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called for a meeting between U.S. and European Union leaders shortly after the clash in the Oval Office between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy Feb. 28.
Meloni said in a statement that the meeting would allow the leaders “to speak frankly about how we intend to face today’s great challenges, starting with Ukraine.”
Meloni emphasized the need for Western powers to remain united in their position on Ukraine.
Following the breakdown of discussions between the United States and Ukraine on Feb. 28, French President Emmanuel Macron said that Ukraine has been fighting for the security of Europe.
“There is an aggressor: Russia. There is a victim: Ukraine,” Macron wrote in a social media post on X.
He said that aiding Ukraine and sanctioning Russia was the right move from the start of the conflict three years ago.
President Donald Trump’s Cabinet members have been thanking him and Vice President JD Vance for the stance they took during the Oval Office meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
“Thank you, President Trump, for standing up for the American people and our nation on the global stage,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent wrote on the X platform.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio shared a similar message, thanking Trump for “standing up for America in a way that no President has ever had the courage to do before.”
WASHINGTON—President Donald Trump directed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy be asked to leave the White House after a bilateral discussion broke down Friday, a White House spokesperson told The Epoch Times.
After a tense exchange in the Oval Office with Trump and Vice President JD Vance, Zelenskyy was informed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Advisor Michael Waltz that he was no longer welcome, according to the spokesperson.
Ukrainian representatives were “begging to reset” after negotiations fell apart, but Trump felt disrespected by Zelenskyy’s perceived lack of gratitude and body language that included “eye rolling” and “shrugging,” the White House official said.
Some Democratic lawmakers have expressed their support for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and criticized President Donald Trump, after discussions broke down in the Oval Office.
“Trump’s actions today undermined U.S. leadership, emboldened our adversaries, humiliated both himself and his Republican Party, and insulted the generations of Americans who fought and died to build America’s standing in the world,” Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.) said in a statement.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) picked up on the issue, raised by Vice President JD Vance, of whether Zelenskyy has gratitude for the United States’ support.
European leaders have begun to respond to the heated Oval Office exchange between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Moldovan President Maia Sandu said her country “stands with Ukraine” in its war with Russia.
“The truth is simple. Russia invaded Ukraine. Russia is the aggressor,” Sandu wrote in a social media post on X.
Republican lawmakers have begun to speak out about the breakdown in diplomacy between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and top U.S. leaders, President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance.
"Somebody asked me, am I embarrassed about Trump? I have never been more proud of the President,” Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) told reporters. “I was very proud of JD Vance standing up for our country. We want to be helpful. What I saw in the Oval Office was disrespectful, and I don't know if we can ever do business with Zelenskyy again. I think most Americans saw a guy that they would not want to go in business with. The way he handled the meeting, the way he confronted the president, was just over the top.”
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem shared a clip of the Oval Office exchange between Vance and Zelenskyy on X, stating, “There is no doubt today that we have the right person alongside President Trump. Thank you, @VP.”
Dmitry Medvedev, who serves as deputy chair for Russia’s national security council, praised what he described as President Donald Trump’s “fierce scolding” of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during the two leader’s Oval Office meeting Feb. 28.
“Trump told [Zelenskyy] the truth to his face: the Kiev regime is gambling with World War III,” Medvedev said in a post on Telegram.
Medvedev said that Moscow would now need to work to cut Western military aid from reaching Ukraine altogether.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy took to X after his Oval Office blowup with President Donald Trump on Feb. 28. His first public message after the dispute was one of gratitute, with reiteration of the need for peace.
“Thank you America, thank you for your support, thank you for this visit. Thank you @POTUS, Congress, and the American people,” he said. “Ukraine needs just and lasting peace, and we are working exactly for that.”
The Ukrainian leader was also originally scheduled to give a speech at the Hudson Institute at 4 p.m. This has now been canceled, according to this office.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is leaving Washington without signing a rare earths deal with the United States following a volatile exchange with American leadership.
The meeting between Zelenskyy and President Donald Trump at the White House was supposed to be one of resolve and progress, with the two sides agreeing to a deal that would grant the United States access to billions of dollars’ worth of rare earth minerals while working toward security guarantees against future Russian aggression for Ukraine.
Instead, no deal was signed, and Zelenskyy was criticized in front of the press by both Trump and Vice President JD Vance and then told to leave the White House before the meeting’s scheduled end time.
WASHINGTON—Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was asked to leave the White House on Feb. 28 following a tense meeting with President Donald Trump, according to a White House official.
The meeting escalated after Zelenskyy was accused of being disrespectful and failing to show gratitude for Trump’s efforts to end the war in Ukraine.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz informed Zelenskyy that Trump and Vice President JD Vance no longer wished to continue the meeting, the official said.
Zelenskyy Leaves Trump Meeting Early After White House Argument
An Oval Office meeting between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy turned into a heated argument after both Trump and Vice President JD Vance accused the Ukrainian leader of being ungrateful.Both sides were meant to sign a natural resources deal on Feb. 28, but that was called off after the open clash during which the U.S. leaders took issue with Zelenkyy’s public insistence for security guarantees.
Vance, responding to Zelenskyy said, “It’s disrespectful for you to come to the Oval Office to try to litigate this in front of the American media.”
Trump, raising his voice, said to Zelenskyy that Ukraine is “not in a very good position,” and, “You don’t have the cards right now. With us, you’re start having cards.”
“You’re gambling with the lives of millions of people. You’re gambling with World War Three,” Trump said. “What you’re doing is very disrespectful to this country.”
Vance then accused the Ukraine leader of being ungrateful, asking him, “Have you said thank you once this entire meeting?”
Trump also warning Zelenskyy that he was risking losing U.S. support entirely.
“You’re either going to make a deal or we’re out,” Trump said.
Trump said a deal between the United States and Ukraine could put Zelenskyy in a better negotiating position, but chided the Ukrainian leader, saying, “You’re not at all acting thankful.”
The president then ordered the press out of the Oval Office.
Deal Signing Called Off
After meeting behind closed doors, Trump indicated in a Truth Social post minutes later that Zelenskyy “is not ready for Peace if America is involved.”“He disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office. He can come back when he is ready for Peace,” Trump added.
The White House later confirmed that no deal was signed and a planned joint press conference in the afternoon was called off. Zelenskyy has left the White House.
“Thank you @POTUS. Congress, and the American people. Ukraine needs just and lasting peace, and we are working exactly for that,” Zelenskyy continued.
Trump has sought to negotiate a quick end to the ongoing Russia–Ukraine war. He has positioned the deal for access to Ukraine’s minerals as a way to recoup some of the funds the United States has already contributed to Ukraine’s war effort.
Meanwhile, Zelenskyy has been adamant that a deal for Ukraine’s natural resources should include additional security guarantees from the United States.
Earlier in the Oval Office meeting, Trump downplayed the importance of new security guarantees.
“Security is so easy. That’s about 2 percent of the problem. I’m not worried about security. I’m worried about getting the deal done. The security is the easy part,” Trump said.
Trump said Ukraine could potentially see additional U.S. weapons shipments, but indicated he’s focused on ending the conflict rather than continuing to sustain Kyiv in a fight.
“Hopefully I won’t have to send very much, because hopefully we’re going to have it finished,” Trump said.
Zelenskyy responded moments later, insisting that a deal ought to include more concrete security guarantees.
“We will never accept just a ceasefire,” the Ukrainian leader said.
Earlier this week Trump said he expects Zelenskyy will have to make concessions to Russia, as part of the final deal to bring an end to the fighting between the two countries.
When asked what concessions Ukraine would likely have to make, Trump said: “I don’t want to tell you right now, but I can tell you that NATO you can forget about. That’s been, I think—that’s probably the reason the whole thing started.”
Moscow has always regarded Ukrainian membership of the NATO alliance as an unacceptable threat.
Ahead of the White House visit, Zelenskyy said he also hoped to discuss whether the U.S. plans to halt its military aid to Ukraine and, if so, whether Kyiv would be permitted to directly purchase U.S. weapons.
He said he also wanted to know whether Ukraine would be allowed to use frozen Russian assets to buy weapons and whether Washington would lift the sanctions currently in place on Moscow.