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

Former President Donald Trump clashed with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a tense Oval Office meeting on Friday, accusing him of "gambling with millions of lives" and suggesting his actions could push the world closer to war. The heated exchange, which involved Vice President JD Vance, ended with Zelenskyy leaving the White House without securing new security guarantees from the U.S.

Zelenskyy had arrived in Washington at a critical moment for Ukraine, hoping to secure continued American support. However, Trump and Vance openly berated the Ukrainian leader, expressing skepticism about his approach to diplomacy with Russia. The conversation grew so contentious that top Trump advisers ultimately asked Zelenskyy to leave the White House.

As he departed for Mar-a-Lago later that day, Trump told reporters that Zelenskyy had "overplayed his hand" and warned that Ukraine must seek peace or risk losing further backing. The fallout from the meeting raises uncertainty about the future of U.S. support for Ukraine, including a potential deal that would have granted the U.S. greater access to Ukraine’s rare earth minerals.

The confrontation highlights growing tensions over America’s role in the conflict, with Trump signaling a shift in policy that could have global ramifications.