Watch the full Trump-Zelenky meeting in the Oval Office
U.S. President Donald Trump talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 28, 2025.
A fiery altercation between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office on Friday has sent shockwaves around the world. The meeting, which was intended to be a step towards peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia, quickly descended into a war of words that has left Ukraine's fate hanging in the balance.
The encounter began cordially, with the two exchanging handshakes and small talk. However, tensions soon boiled over when Trump's Vice President, JD Vance, accused Zelensky of not being "thankful" enough for U.S. support. Zelensky, visibly frustrated, asked Vance if he had ever been to Ukraine, prompting the vice president to angrily accuse the Ukrainian leader of leading "propaganda tours."
As the tensions increased, Trump himself became increasingly agitated, berating Zelensky and accusing him of "gambling with the lives of millions of people" and "gambling with World War III." The U.S. president also expressed solidarity with Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying he "went through a hell of a lot with me" during the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.
The meeting has left many observers, including traditional conservative foreign policy analysts, deeply concerned. As one conservative commentator warned, "there will be consequences that follow from this, and they will almost certainly be bad for U.S. security and that of our allies."
Watch video of the full meeting below or at this link.
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