Zelenskyy Leaves White House Early After Tense Meeting With Trump

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy left the White House earlier than scheduled on Friday February 28 following a heated exchange with U.S. President Donald Trump during their meeting in the Oval Office.

The meeting, initially planned to solidify a framework agreement on mineral resources between the two nations, took a confrontational turn as Trump urged Zelenskyy to negotiate with Russia and warned of potential consequences for continued U.S. support.

Trump told Zelenskyy, “You’re gambling with World War Three. Be thankful.” Zelenskyy, in response, emphasized that the war was between Ukraine and Russia, not the United States. He argued that Kyiv and Moscow should engage in direct talks, with the U.S. as a supporting partner rather than a primary negotiator.

The conversation became increasingly tense as Trump reiterated his stance on European and NATO involvement, while Zelenskyy pressed for unwavering U.S. commitment. The Ukrainian leader, who had arrived at the White House to sign the much discussed minerals deal departed sooner than expected.

Earlier, Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with U.S. senators to push for stronger security guarantees and military aid.