A massive argument broke out between Donald Trump and Ukraine's President Zelensky today.
Minutes into the meeting between US President Donald Trump and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, a verbal clash broke out between the two leaders at the Oval Office. In a loud and stern voice, President Trump told Mr Zelensky that you "either make a deal or we are out".
"You are in big trouble...you are not winning this," he said.
President Zelensky responded in equal measure, saying that "We are in our own country, and we have stayed strong all this time. We have even thanked you for it (your support)", to which the US Vice President responded "in this meeting?".
But an extraordinary shouting match ensued between the two leaders as the international media watched in utter disbelief. "I'm afraid dealing this way is going to make things very difficult," said President Trump as hopes for a peace deal in Ukraine hung in the balance.
"You're gambling with the lives of millions of people. You're gambling with World War Three, and what you're doing is very disrespectful to this country," Donald Trump added.
By now, the argument extended to the US Vice President as well, when Zelensky asked him to desist from "talking loudly". Keeping a firm tone, the US Vice President JD Vance told President Zelensky that "diplomacy was needed" to end the war, but President Zelensky hit back saying "what kind of diplomacy?" Mr Vance then accused him of being "disrespectful" in the president's office.
Here's a video of the rest of the verbal duel between Trump and Zelensky:
Defending the Vice President, Donald Trump lashed out at President Zelensky saying "We have given you $350 billion, we gave you military equipment, and a lot of backing. If you didn't have our military equipment, this war would have been over in two weeks."
To this, President Zelensky immediately shot back, indirectly accusing Trump of speaking the same words as Putin. saying "yes-yes, wouldn't have lasted even two or three days - I heard that from Putin too,"
Donald Trump, surprised by Zelensky's resilience to his verbal dressing-down, ended up saying "It is going to be a very hard thing to do business like this," as the crucial minerals deal seemed close to slipping away. A no-deal would mean no ceasefire or peace deal. At this point some journalists were seen holding their foreheads nodding in the dismay.
In an attempt to bring things in control, the US Vice President stepped in again, saying "There are disagreements. Let's go litigate those disagreements, instead of fighting it out in front of the American media when you are wrong. We know you (Zelensky) are wrong" - A few days ago, Donald Trump had called Zelensky a "dictator" and accused Zelensky of "starting the war".
Back at the Oval Office, Donald Trump immediately said "I think it's good for the American people to see what's going on. That's why I kept this story for so long. You have got to be thankful for all that we (US) have done. You just don't have the cards (to go solo)." Trump also took a moment to say that "this is great TV", in an attempt to lighten the mood.
Almost scolding Zelensky, Trump said "People are dying, you're running low on soldiers, and then you tell us 'I don't want a ceasefire', and 'I want to go on fighting' - Look...you need to call a ceasefire now, so that the bullets stop flying, and no more lives are lost. I am here, and I want a ceasefire, but clearly you don't want a ceasefire," Trump said in an accusatory tone.
Zelensky hit back again asking Trump to "ask your predecessors what they have to say about the ceasefire", to which Trump immediately said "That was a guy named Biden, who was not a smart person" insulting the former US President - something he had done during campaign rallies, but perhaps never in the Oval Office. The remark will almost certainly widen the fissure between the Republicans and the Democrats.
"But that was your President", exclaimed Zelensky, himself a bit shocked at Trump's outburst on Biden. Trump continued speaking over the Ukrainian President, saying "I gave you javelins (a man-portable anti-tank system). Obama gave you sheets (to cover bodies). You have got to be more thankful to the person who actually helped."
"Let me be very straight with you - you do not have the cards. With us, you have the cards, and without us, you do not have any cards," President Trump said towards the end of the argument before the cacophony of the press filled the room.
After the high-decibel meeting, Donald Trump immediately shared a message on his social media platform Truth Social, in which he wrote "I have determined that President Zelenskyy is not ready for Peace if America is involved."
"He disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office. He can come back when he is ready for Peace," President Trump added.
In the wake of this ugly meeting, the hope for peace in Ukraine now seems indefinitely delayed as President Zelensky left without signing the crucial deal which would be the first step to a ceasefire.
