Volodymyr Zelenskyy left the White House early on Friday, and no minerals deal was signed. What unfolded in the Oval Office left US military support for Ukraine in doubt.
The trouble began in front of cameras. Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance berated the Ukrainian president, and the Washington meeting never reached its closed-door portion. Trump told Zelenskyy he was “gambling with world war three” and that he should come back “when he is ready for peace.” The press conference meant to announce the minerals deal was cancelled. Trump had described that deal as the first step toward a ceasefire with Russia.
The apology question
Secretary of State Marco Rubio told CNN that Zelenskyy should “apologise for turning this thing into the fiasco for him that it became.” Rubio added: “There was no need for him to go in there and become antagonistic.” He also wondered aloud whether the Ukrainian leader really wanted a peace deal.
Zelenskyy, in an interview with Fox News, said he regretted that the exchange turned sour but believed the relationship could be repaired. Host Bret Baier asked him twice whether he owed Trump an apology. Zelenskyy did not answer directly. “I think that we have to be very open and very honest,” he said. “And I’m not sure that we did something bad.” He called the row “not good for both sides” and said Ukraine would not enter peace talks until it had security guarantees against another Russian offensive.
Trump, speaking to reporters before leaving for Florida, repeated that he wanted a ceasefire immediately. “I want it to end immediately,” he said. Ukraine, he argued, held a weak hand: “You can’t embolden somebody that doesn’t have the cards.”
Aid in the balance
The Washington Post, citing a senior US official, reported that the administration was weighing a halt to all military aid shipments still waiting to go out. Those include billions of dollars of radars, vehicles, ammunition and missiles.
In Europe, leaders moved fast to back Kyiv. European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen wrote to Zelenskyy: “Your dignity honors the bravery of the Ukrainian people.” EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said “the free world needs a new leader.” Olaf Scholz said Ukraine could count on Germany and Europe. French president Emmanuel Macron said Russia was the aggressor. Hungary’s Viktor Orbán was the exception, thanking Trump for standing “bravely for peace.” In Moscow, Dmitry Medvedev wrote on Telegram: “A brutal dressing down in the Oval Office.”
In Washington, Democrats called the treatment of Zelenskyy “shameful” and “disgraceful,” while Republicans said the president was “putting America first.” Senator Lindsey Graham, long one of Ukraine’s loudest champions in Congress, called on Zelenskyy to resign.
In Kyiv, some people saw it differently. Nataliia Serhiienko, a 67-year-old retiree, said Ukrainians approved of their president “because Zelenskyy fought like a lion.”
Kharkiv had its own night. A Russian drone attack there injured at least five people, according to regional governor Oleh Syniehubov. Eight drones struck three central districts, more than 50 people were evacuated from a medical facility, and dozens of buildings were damaged.
