Watch: Zelenskyy leaves White House without signing deal after explosive Trump meeting

The last 10 minutes of the nearly 45-minute engagement devolved into a tense back and forth between Donald Trump, US vice president JD Vance and Volodymyr Zelenskyy

US vice president JD Vance, right, speaks with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, left, as Donald Trump listens in the Oval Office. Picture: AP Photo/ Mystyslav Chernov

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has left the White House without signing a critical minerals deal with the US that Donald Trump had suggested was a condition for future support for Ukraine.

His departure on Friday afternoon came after Mr Trump cut short talks over the deal and shouted at Ukraine’s leader during an extraordinary meeting in the Oval Office, berating him for “gambling with millions of lives” and suggesting his actions could trigger World War Three.

The last 10 minutes of the nearly 45-minute engagement devolved into a tense back and forth between Mr Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Mr Zelenskyy — who urged scepticism about Russia’s commitment to diplomacy, citing Moscow’s years of broken commitments on the global stage.

It began with Mr Vance telling Mr Zelenskyy: “Mr President, with respect. I think it’s disrespectful for you to come to the Oval Office to try to litigate this in front of the American media.”

Mr Zelenskyy tried to object, prompting Mr Trump to raise his voice and say: “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 the country, this country that’s backed you far more than a lot of people say they should have.” In a later post on Truth Social, Mr Trump repeated that Mr Zelenskyy was “disrespectful”.

“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,” Mr Trump wrote. “I don’t want advantage, I want PEACE.” 

“He can come back when he is ready for Peace,” he added.

Irish reaction

Micheál Martin described the interaction between presidents Trump and Zelenskyy as an “huge unsettling setback” during an appearance on the Late Late Show on Friday.

He said the conversation was “extraordinary” but that he expects European leaders will try to re-build and bridge the gap between Europe and America on support for Ukraine.

The Taoiseach reiterated his admiration for Mr Zelenskyy, saying “he stood his ground” at the start of the Russian invasion in 2022.

He added: “I have the utmost admiration for him and for the resilience of the Ukrainian people in fighting back the illegal Russian invasion of Ukraine.

“There was a lot of diplomacy on this week, beginning with Emmanuel Macron’s visit to the White House, followed by Keir Starmer, followed by President Zelenskyy.

“The whole idea around it was the idea of peace we all want, but there is a big issue for Europe.

“Europe does not trust President Putin, and with good reason given what happened in the Crimean invasion and so on.”

President Donald Trump met Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office. Picture: AP Photo/ Mystyslav Chernov

He described the American leader as firstly a businessman and said he is different to conventional politicians.

Mr Martin harked back to the experiences of Ireland and Northern Ireland in the 1990s, pointing out lasting peace and a ceasefire takes time to put in place.

“I think Europe will stand with Ukraine,” he said. “Ok, this has been a huge unsettling setback today, there’s no question about that.”

Mr Martin met with the Ukrainian president this week when he stopped in Ireland on his way to the US, and is due to meet the US president in March.

Following the exchange, Tánaiste Simon Harris said "Ukraine is not to blame for this war brought about by Russia's illegal invasion."

In a post on X, Mr Harris said: "We stand with Ukraine."

Mr Zelenskyy had been scheduled to have lunch with Mr Trump and both leaders were going to sign a minerals deal during a joint news conference. Instead, Mr Zelenskyy’s armoured SUV abruptly pulled up to the door of the West Wing moments after Mr Trump’s post.

Earlier, Mr Trump laid bare his efforts to coerce Mr Zelenskyy to agree to giving the US an interest in his country’s valuable minerals and to push him toward a diplomatic resolution to the war on the American leader’s terms.

A vehicle with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on board departs after a meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington, Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. Picture: AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana

Earlier in the meeting Mr Trump said the US would continue to provide military assistance to Ukraine, but said he hoped that not too much aid would be forthcoming.

“We’re not looking forward to sending a lot of arms,” Mr Trump said. “We’re looking forward to getting the war finished so we can do other things.” Mr Trump suggested that Mr Zelenskyy was not in a position to be demanding concessions.

“You’re not in a good position. You don’t have the cards right now,” Mr Trump said pointing his finger toward Mr Zelenskyy. “With us you start having cards.” He also accused Mr Zelenskyy of being “disrespectful” to the US.

“It’s going to be a very hard thing to do business like this,” Mr Trump told Mr Zelenskyy at one point, as the two leaders talked over each other about past international support for Ukraine.

“Again, just say thank you,” Mr Vance interjected to Mr Zelenskyy, blasting him for litigating “disagreements” in front of the press.

Mr Trump, though, suggested he was fine with the drama. “I think it’s good for the American people to see what’s going on,” he added.

“You’re not acting at all thankful,” Mr Trump said, before adding, “This is going to be great television.” The harsh words came at a pivotal and precarious moment for Ukraine.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy departs the White House in Washington, Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. Picture: AP Photo/Ben Curtis

Mr Zelenskyy had planned to try to convince the White House to provide some form of US backing for Ukraine’s security against any future Russian aggression.

The economic deal, which is seen as a step toward ending the three-year war, references the importance of Ukraine’s security. Earlier in the meeting, before tempers flared, Mr Trump said the agreement would be signed soon in the East Room of the White House.

“We have something that is a very fair deal,” Mr Trump said, adding, “It is a big commitment from the United States.” He said the US wants to see the killing in the war stopped, adding that US money for Ukraine should be “put to different kinds of use like rebuilding”.

Earlier, Mr Zelenskyy called Russian President Vladimir Putin a terrorist and told Mr Trump that Ukraine and the world need “no compromises with a killer”.

“Even during the war there are rules,” he said.

As Ukrainian forces hold out against slow but steady advances by Russia’s larger and better-equipped army, leaders in Kyiv have pushed to ensure a potential US-brokered peace plan would include guarantees for the country’s future security.

Many Ukrainians fear that a hastily negotiated peace — especially one that makes too many concessions to Russian demands — would allow Moscow to rearm and consolidate its forces for a future invasion after current hostilities cease.

According to the preliminary economic agreement, seen by The Associated Press, the US and Ukraine will establish a co-owned, jointly managed investment fund to which Ukraine will contribute 50% of future revenues from natural resources, including minerals, hydrocarbons and other extractable materials.

A more detailed agreement on establishing the fund will be drawn up once the preliminary one is signed.