Trump kicks Zelensky out of White House after shouting match.
Donald Trump kicked Volodymyr Zelensky out of the White House after a meeting between the two leaders descended into a shouting match.
The pair were meant to have a bilateral meeting behind closed doors to discuss signing a rare minerals deal, but the talks were cancelled after a tense fallout in front of reporters.
A joint press conference between the two men has been axed and the rare earth minerals deal they were meant to sign, shelved.
Press conference between #Trump and #Zelensky cancelled after they clashed in the White House. Pres Trump said he doesn’t want peace in a statement 
#ukraine #russia
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According to CNN, Mr Trump instructed his secretary of state, Marco Rubio, and national security adviser, Mike Walz to inform Mr Zelensky he needed to leave.
During the Oval Office meeting in front of the world’s media, Mr Trump told his Ukrainian counterpart: “You’re gambling with World War Three, and what you’re doing is very disrespectful to the country that’s backed you [the most].”
Mr Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform: “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.”
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.— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) February 28, 2025
Lindsay Graham, the Republican senator who is amongst the party’s strongest supporters of Ukraine, said he was ‘devastated’ by the public fall-out and it may mean Mr Zelensky would have to be replaced.
‘The question for me, for the Ukrainian people, I don’t know if Zelensky can ever get you where you want to go with the United States. Either he dramatically changes or you gotta get someone new.”