President Donald Trump announced on Friday that he was cancelling a planned press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky following a tense Oval Office meeting, after which Trump declared the Ukrainian leader was “not ready for Peace if America is involved.”
Trump asked Zelensky to leave following their meeting, a White House official told The Daily Wire. Zelensky departed the White House shortly thereafter.
The statement followed a tense meeting in the Oval Office between Trump, Zelensky, and Vice President JD Vance, in which the American leaders chastised Zelensky for his behavior on American soil, arguing that the Ukrainian president was ungrateful.
“We had a very meaningful meeting in the White House today,” Trump said in a statement on Friday afternoon. “Much was learned that could never be understood without conversation under such fire and pressure.”
“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… pic.twitter.com/CtnqXBNcW3
— President Donald J. Trump (@POTUS) February 28, 2025
“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 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.”
Trump’s statement came after a fiery end to an otherwise pleasant Oval Office meeting to finalize a mineral deal between the United States and Ukraine.
.@VP: “Do you think that it’s respectful to come to the Oval Office of the United States of America and attack the administration that is trying to prevent the destruction of your country?”@POTUS: “You don’t have the cards right now. With us, you start having cards … You’re… pic.twitter.com/iTYyAmfuCJ
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) February 28, 2025
“Do you think that it’s respectful to come to the Oval Office of the United States of America and attack the administration that is trying to prevent the destruction of your country?” Vance asked Zelensky. “Right now you guys are going around and forcing conscripts to the front lines because you have manpower problems.
“You should be thanking the president for trying to bring an end to this conflict,” Vance added, noting that Zelensky was “forcing conscripts to the front lines because you have manpower problems.”
“During war, everybody has problems, even you, but you have a nice ocean and don’t feel now, but you will feel it in the future,” Zelensky said.
“You don’t know that,” Trump said, cutting in as Zelensky continued to try to interrupt. “Don’t tell us what we’re going to feel. … You’re in no position to dictate what we are going to feel. We are going to feel very good. … You’re right now not in a very good position. You’ve allowed yourself to be in a very bad position and [Vance] happens to be right about it.”
“You don’t have the cards right now,” Trump added. “With us you start having cards. You’re gambling with the lives of millions of people. You’re gambling with World War III, and what you’re doing is very disrespectful to the country.”
Vance then cut in, asking Zelensky if he had said “thank you” at all during the meeting.
“You went to Pennsylvania and campaigned for the opposition in October,” Vance said. “Offer some words of appreciation to the United States of America and the president who is trying to save your country.”
Kassy Akiva contributed to this report.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.