A press conference in the Oval Office with President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Ukrainian President Zelensky turned contentious after Vance slammed Zelensky for campaigning with former Vice President Kamala Harris. The chaotic meeting appears to have squashed Zelensky’s opportunity to sign a mineral deal with the US.
During the presser, Zelensky posed a question to Vance, “what kind of diplomacy JD” can you have with Russian President Vladimir Putin?
Vance fired back, “I’m talking about the kind of diplomacy that will bring an end to the destruction of your country.” After Zelensky attempted to interject, the Vice President stopped him and said it was “disrespectful for you to come into the Oval Office and litigate this in front of the American media. Right now, you are forcing conscripts to the first lines because you have manpower problems. You should be thanking the President for trying to bring an end to the conflict.”
‼️A heated back and forth between @ZelenskyyUa, @POTUS, and @VP now in the Oval. pic.twitter.com/j1YCy4Jm3K
— Misha Komadovsky (@komadovsky) February 28, 2025
In his response, Zelensky irritated Trump when he argued that Russia would one day threaten the US. Trump cut off Zelensky saying, “Don’t tell us what we’re going to feel. We’re trying to solve a problem. Don’t tell us what we are going to feel because you are in no position to dictate that.” He continued as he talked over Zelensky, “You’re gambling with the lives of millions of people. You’re gambling with WWIII. What you’re doing is very disrespectful to the country, this country.”
Vance then attacked Zelensky over campaign with Vice President Kamala Harris shortly before the election. After a brief exchange, Trump interrupted Zelensky stating, “You’ve done a lot of talking. Your country is in big trouble. You’re not winning.” He added, “It’s going to be very hard to do business like this.”
At the start of the press conference, Trump said he expected Zelensky to sign the mineral deal on Friday. As the press conference continued, Trump questioned whether Zelensky wanted an agreement and implied that future US aid to Ukraine depended on Kiev signing the deal. He told Zelensky, “You’re either going to make a deal or we’re out, and if we’re out, you’ll fight it out. I don’t think it’s going to be pretty, but you’ll fight it out.”
The deal would have established a fund where Ukraine will put 50% of its proceeds from rare earth minerals and other resources that will be used for investment projects in Ukraine. The deal would not have explicitly given security guarantees to Ukraine.
Throughout the press conference, Trump said he wanted to end the deal and would make a deal with Putin. Zelensky said he would be unwilling to make compromises with Russia. Trump disagreed saying both sides would have to make concessions.
Following the presser, Trump posted on TruthSocial that the deal was off. “We had a very meaningful meeting in the White House today. Much was learned that could never be understood without conversation under such fire and pressure. It’s amazing what comes out through emotion, and I have determined that President Zelensky is not ready for Peace if America is involved, because he feels our involvement gives him a big advantage in negotiations. I don’t want advantage, I want PEACE. He disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office. He can come back when he is ready for Peace.”
Below is a longer version of the clash:
Here is a link to the entire event.
Kyle Anzalone is the opinion editor of Antiwar.com and news editor of the Libertarian Institute. He hosts The Kyle Anzalone Show and is co-host of Conflicts of Interest with Connor Freeman.
