European leaders rush to back Zelenskyy after fiery meeting with Trump at White House – live
Trump-Zelenskyy talks cut short after heated exchanges in Oval Office – summary
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Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s visit to the White House has been cut short after he got into a heated exchange with US president Donald Trump and vice-president JD Vance, who accused him of “disrespectful” behaviour during their talks in the Oval Office.
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In a social media update, Trump said he has determined that Zelenskyy “is not ready for peace if America is involved, because he feels our involvement gives him a big advantage in negotiations”, and said the Ukrainian leader “disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office”. “He can come back when he is ready for peace,” he added.
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In their earlier talks, Trump repeatedly told Zelenskyy that he was “gambling with the lives of millions, with the third world war”, and told him to stop holding out for further security guarantees saying “you’re either going to make a deal or we are out”.
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Trump appeared to draw false equivalence between the two sides of the war and positioning himself “for both Ukraine and Russia” as he pursues a peace deal, in stark contrast to Zelenskyy’s comments about Putin as a “killer” and “terrorist” who invaded Ukraine, and with whom he was not ready to compromise on the Ukrainian territory.
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The pair repeatedly clashed over their view of Russia and the negotiations, as well as the extent of the European support for Ukraine.
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JD Vance also falsely accused Zelenskyy for not thanking the US for its support and “campaigning for the opposition in October,” instead of showing “words of appreciation for the US and the president who is trying to save your country.”
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Zelenskyy has left the White House moments ago, with the press conference between the two leaders, where they were expected to sign a deal on minerals, also cancelled.
Key events
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Summary of the day so far
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Trump says Zelenskyy ‘overplayed his hand’ and says meeting ‘didn’t work out exactly great’
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Russia reacts with glee to Trump-Zelenskyy clash
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Starmer expresses ‘unwavering support’ for Ukraine after calls with Trump and Zelenskyy
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US considering ending all military aid to Ukraine – report
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Zelenskyy thanks European leaders for outpouring of support after Trump clash
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US senator Lindsey Graham calls for Zelenskyy to resign
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Zelenskyy ‘has bravery and strength to stand up for what is right’, says Ukrainian foreign minister
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Further European leaders back Zelenskyy in remarkable show of unity
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Ukraine ‘fighting for dignity, independence, security of Europe’, Macron says
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Zelenskyy’s Hudson Institute speech cancelled
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European leaders rally behind Zelenskyy after Trump spat
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Trump’s personal decision to call talks with Zelenskyy off – media reports
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‘Ukraine needs just and lasting peace, we are working for that,’ Zelenskyy says, as he thanks America and Trump
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‘Ukraine, Spain stands with you,’ Spanish prime minister says
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Macron pointedly backs Ukraine over ‘aggressor’ Russia responding to Trump-Zelenskyy clash
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No mineral deal signed, White House confirms
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Poland’s Tusk publicly backs Zelenskyy after clash with Trump
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Trump-Zelenskyy talks cut short after heated exchanges in Oval Office – summary
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Zelenskyy leaves White House after visit gets cut short
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Heated exchanges between Trump, Zelenskyy and Vance – video
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Trump-Zelenskyy press conference cancelled with Zelenskyy set to leave early
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Zelenskyy ‘disrespected the US’ and ‘not ready for peace’, Trump says
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We are committed to Nato, Trump says, but they need to step up
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Putin hates Ukrainians, Zelenskyy says
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Mineral deal not enough, we need security guarantees, Zelenskyy says
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Disagreement between Zelenskyy, Trump and Vance – in pictures
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Trump and Zelenskyy disagree on degree of Europe’s help
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Zelenskyy says ‘no compromises’ with Putin on territories
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‘You’re either going to make a deal or we are out,’ Trump tells Zelenskyy
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Trump, Zelenskyy and Vance clash over diplomacy with Putin
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‘Have you said thank you once?’, JD Vance attacks Zelenskyy
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‘You are gambling with world war three,’ Trump tells Zelenskyy
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I am for both Ukraine and Russia, Trump says
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Trump confirms deal to be signed later, compromises needed but ‘not as big as some people think’
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‘You’re all dressed up!’, Trump tells Zelenskyy on arrival
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We take pride in partnership and friendship with US, Zelenskyy told senators
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Zelenskyy’s arrival at the White House – video
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Trump welcomes Zelenskyy to White House
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Zelenskyy about to arrive at White House to meet Trump
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Five unknowns about any possible deal to end Ukraine-Russia war – analysis
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Athens protests turn violent after clashes with police – video
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German coalition talks formally underway
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Danish intelligence monitoring potential Russian interference in Greenlandic vote
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Zelenskyy expected at London summit on Sunday – diplomatic sources
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Russia names new US ambassador
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European focus for London, EU talks is on supporting Ukraine’s defence, security guarantees – Macron
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Macron says reinstating ‘strategic ambiguity’ on European troops helps Ukraine peace talks
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Macron left with ‘very little hope’ on US tariffs after meeting Trump
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Ireland starts crackdown on asylum system abuses with deportation flights to Georgia
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Romanian government survives no-confidence vote
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Pope Francis no longer in critical condition
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Zelenskyy’s visit to White House – timings
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Protesters ‘waging battle’ with police in Athens as protests turn violent
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Athens protests turn ugly with clashes with police
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Greeks protest through ‘angry silence’ on second anniversary of Tempe train crash
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Protests in Greece on two-year anniversary of Tempe train crash
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Trump briefly wanted to cancel Zelenskyy’s visit – French media
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What European papers say
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Putin would ‘keep his word’ on Ukraine peace deal, Trump insists & other key developments
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Key takeaways from Trump-Starmer meeting
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Morning opening: The Art of the Deal
Continuing from the last post with world leaders’ reactions to the fiery meeting at the White House.
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen on X:
Your dignity honors the bravery of the Ukrainian people. Be strong, be brave, be fearless. You are never alone, dear President.
We will continue working with you for a just and lasting peace.
Moldovan president Maia Sandu on X:
The truth is simple. Russia invaded Ukraine. Russia is the aggressor. Ukraine defends its freedom – and ours. We stand with Ukraine.
Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez on X:
Ukraine, Spain stands with you.
Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán on X:
Strong men make peace, weak men make war. Today President @realDonaldTrump stood bravely for peace. Even if it was difficult for many to digest. Thank you, Mr. President!
Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia’s security council, on Telegram:
A brutal dressing down in the Oval Office.
Czech president Petr Pavel on X:
We stand with Ukraine more than ever. Time for Europe to step up its efforts.
Norwegian prime minister Jonas Gahr Støre in a statement to TV2:
What we saw from the White House today is serious and disheartening … That Trump accuses Zelenskiy of gambling with world war three is deeply unreasonable and a statement I distance myself from. Norway stands with Ukraine in their struggle for freedom.
Dutch prime minister Dick Schoof:
The Netherlands continues to support Ukraine. Especially now. We want lasting peace and an end to the war of aggression that Russia has started. For Ukraine, for all its inhabitants and for Europe.
Estonian foreign minister Margus Tsahkna on X:
The only obstacle to peace is [Russian President Vladimir] Putin’s decision to continue his war of aggression. If Russia stops fighting, there will be no war. If Ukraine stops fighting, there will be no Ukraine. Estonia’s support to Ukraine remains unwavering. Time for Europe to step up.
Polish prime minister Donald Tusk on X:
Dear @ZelenskyyUa, dear Ukrainian friends, you are not alone.
With Reuters
The Trump–Zelenskyy clashes in the Oval Office prompted an outpouring of reaction from around the world. Here’s a cross-section of leaders’ comments, care of Reuters.
Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau on X:
Russia illegally and unjustifiably invaded Ukraine. For three years now, Ukrainians have fought with courage and resilience. Their fight for democracy, freedom, and sovereignty is a fight that matters to us all. Canada will continue to stand with Ukraine and Ukrainians in achieving a just and lasting peace.
German chancellor Olaf Scholz:
No one wants peace more than the citizens of Ukraine! That is why we are jointly seeking the path to a lasting and just peace. Ukraine can rely on Germany – and on Europe.
French president Emmanuel Macron:
Russia is the aggressor, and Ukraine is the aggressed people. I think we were all right to help Ukraine and sanction Russia three years ago, and to continue to do so. We, that is the United States of America, the Europeans, the Canadians, the Japanese and many others. And we must thank all those who have helped and respect those who have been fighting since the beginning. Because they are fighting for their dignity, their independence, their children and the security of Europe. These are simple things, but they’re good to remember at times like these, that’s all.
Italian prime minister Giorgio Meloni:
Every division of the West makes us all weaker and favours those who would like to see the decline of our civilisation. Not of its power or influence, but of the principles that founded it, first and foremost freedom. A division would not benefit anyone. What is needed is an immediate summit between the United States, European states and allies to talk frankly about how we intend to deal with the great challenges of today, starting with Ukraine, which we have defended together in recent years, and those that we will be called upon to face in the future. This is the proposal that Italy intends to make to its partners in the coming hours.
Spokesperson for UK prime minister Keir Starmer:
He retains his unwavering support for Ukraine and is playing his part to find a path forward to a lasting peace, based on sovereignty and security for Ukraine.
Danish foreign minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen on Facebook:
It’s a punch in the gut for Ukraine. … There must be room for robust conversations – even between friends. But when it happens in front of rolling cameras like that, there is only one winner. And he sits in the Kremlin.
Australia’s prime minister has reiterated his country’s support for Ukraine after the fiery meeting between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy but has declined to comment directly on how the confrontation might affect Australia’s relationship with the US.
Donna Lu reports that Anthony Albanese was asked about Australia’s support for Ukraine at a press conference on Saturday morning and the PM said: “We will continue to stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes. Because this is the struggle of a democratic nation versus an authoritarian regime led by Vladimir Putin, who clearly has imperialistic designs not just on Ukraine but throughout that region.”
Pressed specifically about the “extraordinary” exchange between Trump and Zelenskyy, Australia’s prime minister avoided discussing Trump directly, saying: “I am responsible for Australia’s foreign policy. Australia’s foreign policy is determined by Australia.”
To read the full story, click here:
Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said his relationship with the US can still be repaired after the heated exchanges with Donald Trump and JD Vance in the White House.
“Of course,” Zelensky said when asked in a Fox News interview if the relationship with Trump could be salvaged.
US-Ukrainian ties were about “more than two presidents”, he said, adding that Ukraine badly needed Washington’s help in the fight against Russia’s far bigger and better-armed military.
“It will be difficult without your support,” Zelensky said on Fox.
Agence France-Presse also reports that Zelenskyy’s olive branch came hours after Friday’s extraordinary Oval Office scene where the years-long US policy of huge support for Ukraine against Russia collapsed in a shouting match.
President Trump told journalists later Friday that Zelenskyy was “overplaying his hand” and should agree to end fighting “immediately”.
Zelensky, however, refused to apologise, telling Fox News: “I’m not sure that we did something bad.” But he also said he wished the exchange had not taken place in front of reporters.
The toll of injured from a Russian drone strike on a medical facility and other targets in Kharkiv late on Friday has risen to at least five, according to local officials.
As reported earlier, regional governor Oleh Syniehubov said on Telegram that eight Russian drones had hit civilian areas in three central districts of Ukraine’s second largest city.
He has now said five people were hurt, Reuters reports.
Kharkiv’s mayor, Ihor Terekhov, put the injury toll at seven.
Syniehubov said more than 50 people were evacuated from the medical facility and emergency crews were bringing under control a fire triggered by the strike.
He said dozens of buildings were damaged, with windows shattered in an apartment building, a car dealership and a hypermarket.
In the Black Sea port of Odesa in southern Ukraine, meanwhile, a drone attack reportedly triggered fires in a private home and a business, killing one person and injuring another.
President Trump is not interested in revisiting or reviving the Ukraine minerals deal at the moment, a senior White House official told Reuters.
Zelenskyy’s delegation began “begging” to sign the deal immediately after being told to leave the White House, the official also claimed.
Zelenskyy also told Fox News that he wanted Donald Trump to be more on Ukraine’s side.
He added he believes his relationship with the US president can be salvaged.
When asked whether he regrets the fractious exchange in front of reporters, Zelenskyy said “Yes, I think it was not good.”
Andrew Roth
US military support for Ukraine hangs in the balance and talks over a minerals deal have collapsed following a disastrous White House summit in which Donald Trump warned Volodymyr Zelenskyy that he was “gambling with world war three” and told the Ukrainian president to come back “when he is ready for peace”.
Zelenskyy left the White House early and a press conference to announce the minerals deal was cancelled after Trump gave Zelenskyy a dressing-down that followed an ambush led by the vice-president, JD Vance, to shatter the fragile relationship between the two leaders.
The US president received the Ukrainian president on Friday to discuss a controversial mineral resources deal that Trump has said is the first step toward a ceasefire agreement that he is seeking to broker between Russia and Ukraine.
But the meeting on Friday degenerated after Zelenskyy suggested that Vance, a sceptic of US support for Ukraine, should come to the country to see the destruction from the invasion and that Russia was responsible for the continued fighting.
The meeting had been due to continue behind closed doors, but was cut short after the open display of antagonism in the Oval Office.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy is appearing on Fox News following the abrupt end to his meeting with Donald Trump.
Zelenskyy said: “This kind of spat is not good for both sides.
“I’m very open but I can’t change our Ukrainian attitude to Russia
“They are killers to us. This is very clear to us.
“America is our friend, Europe is our friend … Russia is our enemy. It doesn’t mean we don’t want peace.”
On whether he owes Trump an apology, Zelenskyy said: “I respect President [Trump] and respect American people. I think that we have to be very open and very honest.
“We are partners, we are very close partners. We have to be fair, we have to be free.”
He also acknowledged it was not ideal for the fractious exchange to take place in front of reporters. “Some things we have to discuss out of [the] media,” the Ukraine president added.
A child was injured after Russian drones struck a medical facility and other targets late on Friday in Ukraine’s second largest city, Kharkiv, the regional governor said.
Oleh Syniehubov, writing on the Telegram messaging app, said eight Russian drones had hit civilian areas in three central districts of the city, a frequent target of Russian attacks in the three-year-old war.
The attack triggered a fire in the medical facility and other sites and dozens of buildings were damaged. The child was injured by flying glass.
In the Black Sea port of Odesa, another frequent Russian target in southern Ukraine, a drone attack triggered fires in a private home and a business, killing one person and injuring another.
Rajan Menon
No matter their position on the Russia-Ukraine war, people who view the televised encounter between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office will likely be shocked. It didn’t morph into a full-on screaming match, but it came close.
The meeting might have gone sideways anyway, but JD Vance’s presence ensured that it became ugly – and quickly. The vice-president spoke over Zelenskyy, accused him of ingratitude for the assistance provided by the United States (“Have you ever said thank you?”) and of disrespecting Trump, his host, and, for good measure, scolded him for litigating his country’s case in public. That raised the temperature – a lot.
To be fair, the Ukrainian president shouldn’t have sprung the trap Vance set. He might have said that he had in fact expressed his gratitude in the past, wished to do so again, and was pleased to be in the United States to have a direct discussion with Donald Trump, a man he regards as a strong leader.
Summary of the day so far
A meeting between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy descended into chaos at the White House on Friday, as the US president berated his Ukrainian counterpart and then abruptly called off a minerals deal with that he had said would be the first step towards a ceasefire with Russia.
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Here are the highlights of the conversation between Trump, Zelenskyy and US vice president JD Vance in the Oval Office. The meeting had been due to continue behind closed doors, but was cut short after the open display of antagonism in the Oval Office. Zelenskyy left the White House early and a press conference to announce the minerals deal was cancelled.
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Trump warned Zelenskyy he was “gambling with world war three” and told the Ukrainian president to come back “when he is ready for peace”. The US president and his vice president gave Zelenskyy dressing-down, with Trump and Vance taking turns to berate the Ukrainian leader.
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The Trump administration is considering ending all ongoing shipments of military aid to Ukraine after the Oval Office meeting, according to a report. The decision, if taken, would apply to billions of dollars of radars, vehicles, ammunition and missiles awaiting shipment to Ukraine through the presidential drawdown authority, the Washington Post reports, citing a senior US official.
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European leaders scrambled to stand by Ukraine in the wake of the Trump-Zelenskyy meeting. Zelenskyy thanked leaders from Europe who are still shaken by Vance’s chastising speech to the Munich Security Conference earlier this month. Among those who assured Zelenskyy of Europe’s support were the heads of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and European Council head Antonio Costa. “Today, it became clear that the free world needs a new leader,” the EU’s top diplomat Kaja Kallas said. Hungary’s prime minister, Viktor Orbán, stood out for thanking Trump for having “stood bravely for peace”.
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Moscow has reacted with glee to the confrontation between Trump and Zelenskyy. Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev, now deputy head of Russia’s Security Council, called Zelenskyy an “insolent pig” who had received “a proper slap down in the Oval Office”.
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The UK’s prime minister Keir Starmer spoke to Trump and Zelenskyy after the Oval Office meeting on Friday. Starmer “retains unwavering support for Ukraine, and is doing all he can to find a path forward to a lasting peace based on sovereignty and security for Ukraine”, Downing Street said. Starmer is scheduled to hold talks with Zelenskyy and Italy’s Giorgia Meloni in London on Sunday before a major London defence summit aimed at securing “lasting and enforced” peace in Ukraine. Meloni on Friday called for an immediate summit between the US, Europe and allies.
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US Democratic lawmakers came to Zelenskyy’s defence in statements condemning Trump and Vance’s “shameful” and “disgraceful” treatment of the Ukrainian leader. But Trump’s Republican colleagues described the Oval Office exchange as evidence that the president was “putting America first”. US senator Lindsey Graham from South Carolina, who used to be one of the most outspoken advocates for supporting the Ukraine war effort, called on Zelenskyy to resign.
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Russian drones struck a medical facility and triggered a fire late on Friday in Ukraine’s second largest city, Kharkiv, and also hit several other targets, according to the mayor of Kharkiv.
Donald Trump, speaking to reporters just now, claimed Volodymyr Zelenskyy is “looking for something that I’m not looking for”.
“He’s looking to go on and fight, fight, fight. We’re looking to end the death,” the US president told reporters.
Trump said Zelenskyy was “dealing with a very weak set of cards”, adding:
He doesn’t have the cards. When we signed up, he’s got all of the cards. That doesn’t mean he can fight. He’s got to stop the fighting, stop the death.
Asked whether he trusts Zelenskyy or Russian leader Vladimir Putin more, Trump said:
I don’t trust or distrust anybody, I just want to get the deal done.
Trump says Zelenskyy ‘overplayed his hand’ and says meeting ‘didn’t work out exactly great’
Donald Trump spoke to reporters as he departed the White House, during which he said Volodymyr Zelenskyy “overplayed his hand” in their meeting at the Oval Office earlier today.
“It didn’t work out exactly great,” Trump said about the meeting, adding that “I think [Zelenskyy] very much overplayed his hand”.
Trump claimed he wants an “immediate” ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, but claimed Zelenskyy “doesn’t want to make peace”.
Russia reacts with glee to Trump-Zelenskyy clash
Moscow has reacted with glee to the confrontation between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the White House on Friday.
Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev, now deputy head of Russia’s security council, called Zelenskyy an “insolent pig” who had received “a proper slap down in the Oval Office”.
Kirill Dmitriev, head of Russia’s direct investment fund, called the heated confrontation between the US and Ukrainian leaders “historic”.
Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian foreign ministry, said it was a miracle that Trump and his vice-president, JD Vance, had restrained themselves from hitting Zelenskyy.
Konstantin Kosachyov, deputy chair of Russia’s upper house of parliament, said the bruising encounter had revealed Zelenskyy’s true colours. “Zelenskyiy lost this round with a deafening rattle. And he will have to crawl to the next one on his knees,” he wrote.
Former Kremlin adviser Sergei Markov said the White House meeting was likely to accelerate the end of Zelenskyy’s political career.
Longtime Russian lawmaker Andrei Klishas said the meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy had yielded a “brilliant result”, adding that the Ukrainian leader acted like a “clown” and had been thrown out of the White House “for bad behaviour and disrespect towards the US”.
