Zelenskyy leaves White House without signing minerals deal after Oval Office blowup

Former President Donald Trump clashed with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a tense Oval Office meeting on Friday, sharply criticizing Zelenskyy for “gambling with millions of lives” and warning that his actions could spark World War III.

Trump and Vice President JD Vance berated Zelenskyy as the Ukrainian leader sought security guarantees amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. The heated exchange led Trump to abruptly end the talks, leaving Zelenskyy without a deal for U.S. access to Ukraine’s rare earth minerals.

The meeting, which was expected to solidify U.S. backing for Ukraine, instead ended in open conflict. As Trump departed for Mar-a-Lago, he accused Zelenskyy of “overplaying his hand” and warned that Ukraine risked losing American support unless it pursued peace with Russia.

During the nearly 45-minute discussion, the final minutes turned into a contentious back-and-forth between Trump, Vance, and Zelenskyy, with the Ukrainian leader voicing deep skepticism about Russia’s commitment to diplomacy. Despite his efforts to secure continued U.S. aid, Zelenskyy left the White House without assurances, raising uncertainty about America’s future role in Ukraine’s defense.