Zelenskyy Disrespected US; He Is Not Ready For Peace – Donald Trump Says After Stormy White House Meeting
Tensions erupted in the White House on Friday when Trump and Zelensky engaged in a heated verbal clash over the future of Ukraine’s war with Russia.
United States President, Donald Trump, has said that his Ukraine counterpart, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, is “not ready for peace” if the US remains involved in negotiations on the ongoing war with Russia.
Trump in a scathing statement he posted on his Truth Social after a high-stakes meeting at the White House with Zelenskyy on Friday said that the Ukrainian President disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office.
Tensions erupted in the White House on Friday when Trump and Zelensky engaged in a heated verbal clash over the future of Ukraine’s war with Russia.
The confrontation, which unfolded in the Oval Office in front of reporters, highlighted deep divisions over how to handle the ongoing conflict.
Trump, advocating for a negotiated truce, urged Zelensky to make compromises with Russia, which invaded Ukraine three years ago.
“You can’t do any deals without compromises,” the AFP quoted Trump as saying, adding that Ukraine would have to make concessions, though he hoped they “won’t be as big as some people think.”
Zelensky, however, firmly rejected the notion of negotiating with Russian President Vladimir Putin, whom he described as a “killer.”
Displaying images of war atrocities, the Ukrainian leader emphasised that “there should be no compromises with a killer on our territory.”
He condemned Russia for deporting Ukrainian children and committing war crimes.
But the exchange grew even more confrontational when Trump criticised Zelensky’s attitude, accusing him of lacking gratitude.
In the statement after the meeting, Trump described the meeting as “meaningful” but said that intense emotions during the discussion revealed deep divisions over the role of the U.S. in facilitating an end to the war in Ukraine.
“Much was learned that could never be understood without conversation under such fire and pressure,” Trump said.
He added, “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, who has long criticised U.S. aid to Ukraine and called for a negotiated settlement with Russia, framed Zelenskyy’s stance as a sign that he sees American backing as leverage rather than a pathway to peace.
“I don’t want advantage, I want PEACE,” Trump emphasised.
The former president also accused Zelenskyy of showing disrespect to the U.S. in “its cherished Oval Office,” though he did not specify what actions led to that characterisation.
“He can come back when he is ready for peace,” Trump concluded.
The meeting, which took place amid ongoing U.S. debate over further aid to Ukraine, underscores the sharp divisions in American politics over the war.
While President Joe Biden has maintained strong support for Kyiv, Trump has repeatedly suggested that Ukraine should seek a swift diplomatic resolution with Russia — potentially on terms less favourable to Ukraine.
Zelenskyy has previously rejected the idea of negotiations that could cede Ukrainian territory to Russia and has insisted on continued US support in the face of Moscow’s aggression.
It remains to be seen how his government will respond to Trump’s latest remarks.
