In a tense and public confrontation, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and U.S. President Donald Trump clashed on Friday over Ukraine’s war efforts and U.S. support, culminating in a heated exchange in front of reporters.
The verbal showdown occurred ahead of a planned signing ceremony for a revenue-sharing minerals agreement, as Trump accused Zelenskiy of mishandling the war while Zelenskiy questioned Trump’s stance on Russia. Trump claimed that Ukraine was losing the war, telling Zelenskiy, “People are dying, you’re running low on soldiers.” He further warned that U.S. support was conditional on Ukraine’s approach to negotiations with Russia.
“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,” Trump asserted. He also admonished Zelenskiy for what he perceived as a lack of gratitude, saying, “You’re not acting at all thankful, and that’s not a nice thing. I’ll be honest.”
Zelenskiy, in turn, firmly rejected Trump’s characterization of the war and his suggestion of a compromise with Russia. He urged Trump not to make concessions to Russian President Vladimir Putin, stating, “Make no compromises with a killer.”
Trump insisted that Ukrainian cities had been devastated after three years of conflict and reiterated his belief that Putin was open to a deal. The heated exchange underscored the deep divisions between the two leaders on how to approach the ongoing war and the role of U.S. support in Ukraine’s fight against Russian aggression.
