Outraged by Donald Trump’s actions, the international community has been thrown into disarray when he abruptly removed Volodymyr Zelensky from the White House following a heated dispute over the US’s support of the Ukraine war.
The raging US President gave the hero leader a humiliating Oval Office dressing down and told him to come back when he wanted peace.
The purpose of their meeting was to finalize an agreement in which Ukraine would exchange a significant portion of its mineral resources in return for the billions of dollars in military aid it received from the US.
But the deal went unsigned as a humiliated Mr Zelensky “was told to leave” the White House early.
During a public exchange witnessed by the global press, Mr. Trump accused Mr. Zelensky of not showing enough appreciation for the assistance provided by the US, demanding that he negotiate with the Russian invaders as the situation was not in his favor.
After a week of careful diplomacy led by the UK and France designed to support a peace plan, a summit in London tomorrow will now become crisis talks after a fuming Mr Trump pulled the rug from under his Western allies.
He accused the champion of Kyiv of “risking World War Three” by continuing the war and demanded he publicly thank America.
The President warned Mr Zelensky “you either make a deal or we are out” after US funding for Ukraine’s three-year stand against Russia’s bloody invasion.
Following the angry meeting, Mr Trump said he had “determined that President Zelensky is not ready for Peace if America is involved, because he feels our involvement gives him a big advantage in negotiations”.
He went on: “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.”
Earlier Mr Trump had said to Mr Zelensky’s face: “Your country is in big trouble.
“You’re not winning. You have a damn good chance of coming out OK because of us.”
Mr Trump raged: “We have empowered you to be a tough guy. You either make a deal or we are out. You don’t have the cards.”
Sitting beside Mr Zelensky in front of TV cameras, Mr Trump snapped: “It’s going to be very hard to do business like this. You’ve got to be more thankful.”
The meeting had begun with warm words about the bravery of Ukraine, with the US President saying: “Your soldiers have been unbelievably brave.
“We’ve given them great equipment, but somebody has to use the equipment.”
You don’t have the cards. With us, you start having cards. You’re gambling with the lives of millions of people! You’re gambling with World War Three!”
Donald Trump
He put his previous branding of Mr Zelensky as a dictator down to a “little negotiation spat”, and said he looked forward to getting “dig digging digging” in the mineral deal.
Mr Zelensky appeared to have brought with him the WBC heavyweight title belt won by Oleksandr Usyk when he defeated Tyson Fury.
He had earlier told Mr Trump he would give the trophy to him.
But bickering soon erupted after Mr Zelensky pointed out Putin had previously broken numerous ceasefire deals, so the US might be required to underwrite any peace terms.
Mr Trump said: “We’re trying to solve a problem. Don’t tell us what we’re going to feel — you’re in no position to dictate that.”
He added: “You’re right now not in a very good position. You don’t have the cards. I’m not worried about security, I’m worried about getting the deal done.
“I think once we make the agreement, that’s going to be 95 per cent of it — it’s not going to go back to fighting.”
The Sun Says
PRESIDENT Zelensky is a global hero who has led his wronged country’s brave defence against a tyrant’s war machine.
His ambush by Donald Trump and his vice-president as the world watched was a shocking spectacle.
Zelensky flew to Washington hoping to secure Ukraine’s future, only to be degraded and sent home with no minerals deal.
His courage and leadership have earned him far more respect than the undeserved humiliation he received on live TV.
Mr Zelensky was later attempting to respond to Mr Trump’s claims the war could be solved through diplomacy — a view echoed by Vice President JD Vance.
Mr Zelensky asked Mr Vance: “Putin broke the ceasefire. What kind of diplomacy, JD, are you speaking about? Putin will never stop and will go further.”
Baiting Mr Zelensky, the VP said: “Do you think it’s respectful to come to the Oval Office and attack the administration trying to prevent destruction of your country?”
And Mr Vance demanded: “Have you said ‘thank you’ once this entire meeting?” Mr Zelensky replied: “A lot of times.”
Mr Trump added: “You don’t have the cards. With us, you start having cards. You’re gambling with the lives of millions of people! You’re gambling with World War Three!”
A Trump source said the President kicked Mr Zelensky out before the minerals deal was signed.
They claimed Mr Zelensky had suggested resetting the meeting, but was told by Secretary of State Marco Rubio to leave after he “rolled his eyes” in the talks.
Mr Zelensky said later: “Thank you America, thank you for your support, thank you for this visit.
“Ukraine needs just and lasting peace, and we are working exactly for that.”
Ex-Ukraine PM Arseniy Yatsenyuk told Times Radio champagne corks were “already popping” in the Kremlin.
Shadow Cabinet Minister Robert Jenrick said he was “sickened”.
He added: “To think the bust of Winston Churchill was in the same room. He would be turning in his grave if he saw that happen.”
A sorry spectacle
By Harry Cole
SOME very close to Donald Trump are deeply worried he may have bitten off more than he can chew in his boast that he can end the bitter war in Ukraine.
Bringing the Russians to the table is proving significantly harder than the self-proclaimed dealmaker says publicly, hence his recent warm words towards Putin.
But whether it was a temper tantrum yesterday or something more calculated, hopes of peace look further away than ever.
The bullying humiliation of hero Zelensky at the hands of the leader of the free world was a sad sorry spectacle.
The notoriously thin-skinned President and vice-president JD Vance ganged up on the man who has led three years of war effort following Russia’s invasion.
His crime? Apparently not saying thank-you enough — despite endlessly thanking allies for their support.
It leaves Keir Starmer and other European leaders back at square one in this mess.
