10
Loading video...
By Gabe Whisnant
News Editor
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
Before flying to Mar-a-Lago for the weekend, President Donald Trump spoke to the press about Friday's heated meeting in the Oval Office with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Trump on Friday called for an "immediate" ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, warning Zelensky to negotiate peace or risk losing American support.
"That was not a man that wanted to make peace," Trump said of Zelenskyy, hours after the two had a contentious Oval Office meeting. He added, "I want a ceasefire now."
Read More on U.S.
Trump asserted that Russian President Vladimir Putin, who initiated the invasion three years ago, is now willing to reach a peace agreement.
He repeated his earlier comments that Ukraine has a weak hand, saying "you can't embolden somebody that doesn't have the cards." Without U.S. support, he said, Ukraine will lose.
"You saw what I saw today," Trump said. "This is a man that wants to get us signed up and keep fighting. We're not doing that."
Zelensky, however, urged the U.S. administration to remain wary of Putin's intentions, cautioning against taking the Russian leader's promises at face value.
...
Why It Matters
Trump and Zelensky were scheduled to sign a minerals deal Friday at the White House and then hold a joint press conference in a choreographed show of solidarity aimed at repairing their increasingly fraught relationship.
Instead, Trump effectively kicked Zelensky out of the White House and canceled the press conference after a remarkably heated exchange with Ukraine's leader in the Oval Office — a dramatic turn of events that ratcheted up tensions between the two leaders and put Trump's push for a quick peace deal in Ukraine in doubt.
What To Know
Trump and Vice President Vance had criticized Zelensky for what they saw as a lack of appreciation for U.S. aid, with Trump accusing him of "gambling with World War III." Vance also told Zelensky that diplomacy was the path to peace, to which the Ukrainian leader responded by pointing out Russia's repeated violations of ceasefire agreements.
"He killed our people, and he didn't exchange prisoners," Zelensky said of Russian President Vladimir Putin. "What kind of diplomacy, JD, are you speaking about? What do you mean?"
Vance, a vocal skeptic of continued U.S. military assistance to Ukraine, pushed back. "I'm talking about the kind of diplomacy that's going to end the destruction of your country," he said, later telling Zelensky, "I think it's disrespectful for you to come into the Oval Office to try to litigate this in front of the American media right now."
At that point, tensions boiled over, with Trump raising his voice at the Ukrainian leader. "You're gambling with World War III," he said. "And what you're doing is very disrespectful to this country—this country that's backed you far more than a lot of people say they should have."
What People Are Saying
Trump posted on Truth Social after the meeting: "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. 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."
Shortly after leaving the meeting, Zelensky took to X, formerly Twitter, choosing gratitude over confrontation: "Thank you America, thank you for your support, thank you for this visit. Thank you @POTUS, Congress, and the American people. Ukraine needs just and lasting peace, and we are working exactly for that."
What Happens Next
Trump will spend the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida.
Zelensky will head to the United Kingdom this weekend for talks with Starmer as he looks to shore up support from other allies. The long-term ramifications of the exchange with Trump remains unclear.
Update: 2/28/25, 6:01 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
Update: 2/28/25, 6:09 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
Update: 2/28/25, 8:27 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines