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Meeting at White House ends in disagreement – as it happened [1]
['Adam Fulton', 'Nadeem Badshah', 'Léonie Chao-Fong', 'Jakub Krupa']
Date: 2025-02-28
3d ago 23.31 EST Closing summary We’re going to wrap up this live coverage now, it’s just after 11.30pm in Washington DC and 6.3oam in Kyiv. You can read the top lines on the extraordinary scenes at the White House in our full report here, and below is an overview of all the latest. Thanks for reading. US military support for Ukraine hangs in the balance and talks over a minerals deal have collapsed after a meeting between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy descended into acrimony at the White House on Friday. The US president berated his Ukrainian counterpart and then abruptly called off the minerals deal that Trump had said would be the first step towards a ceasefire with Russia.
Trump warned Zelenskyy he was “gambling with world war three” and told him to come back “when he is ready for peace”. A full transcript of the Oval Office clash can be read here. The meeting between Trump, vice-president JD Vance and Zelenskyy had been due to continue behind closed doors but was cut short after the open clash, with Zelenskyy leaving the White House early and a press conference to announce the minerals deal being cancelled. 3:20 'Make a deal or we are out': the worst of Trump and Zelenskyy’s clash – video US secretary of state Marco Rubio called on Zelenskyy to apologise after the Trump meeting, while questioning whether the Ukrainian leader really wanted a peace deal, according to a CNN report. Zelenskyy should “apologise for turning this thing into the fiasco for him that it became”, Rubio told the news outlet. “There was no need for him to go in there and become antagonistic.”
Zelenskyy expressed regret that the Trump meeting became acrimonious but is insisting their relationship can be salvaged. The Ukrainian leader defended himself in an interview on Fox News while also agreeing the dispute was “not good for both sides”. Asked if he felt like he owed the US president an apology, as many of Trump’s Republican allies have also demanded, Zelenskyy did not directly answer, saying instead: “I think that we have to be very open and very honest. And I’m not sure that we did something bad.”
The Trump administration is considering ending all ongoing shipments of military aid to Ukraine after the Oval Office meeting, according to a report. The decision, if taken, would apply to billions of dollars of radars, vehicles, ammunition and missiles awaiting shipment to Ukraine through the presidential drawdown authority, the Washington Post reports, citing a senior US official.
European leaders scrambled to stand by Ukraine in the wake of the Trump-Zelenskyy meeting. Zelenskyy thanked leaders from Europe who are still shaken by Vance’s chastising speech to the Munich Security Conference in February. Among those who assured Zelenskyy of Europe’s support were the heads of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and European Council head Antonio Costa. “Today, it became clear that the free world needs a new leader,” said the EU’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas. German chancellor Olaf Scholz said: “Ukraine can rely on Germany – and on Europe.” French president Emmanuel Macron said: “Russia is the aggressor and Ukraine is the aggressed people.” A spokesperson for UK prime minister Keir Starmer said: “He retains his unwavering support for Ukraine.”
Hungary’s prime minister, Viktor Orbán, stood out in Europe for thanking Trump for having “stood bravely for peace” . Moscow reacted with glee to the Trump-Zelenskyy clash. Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev, now deputy head of Russia’s security council, said on Telegram: “A brutal dressing down in the Oval Office.”
US Democratic lawmakers came to Zelenskyy’s defence in statements condemning Trump and Vance’s “shameful” and “disgraceful” treatment of the Ukrainian leader. But Trump’s Republican colleagues described the Oval Office exchange as evidence that the president was “putting America first”. US senator Lindsey Graham from South Carolina, who used to be one of the most outspoken advocates for supporting the Ukraine war effort, called on Zelenskyy to resign.
A Russian drone strike on a medical facility and other targets in Kharkiv late on Friday injured at least five people, according to local officials. Regional governor Oleh Syniehubov said eight drones hit civilian areas in three central districts of Ukraine’s second largest city. More than 50 people were evacuated from the medical facility and emergency crews were bringing a fire triggered by the strike under control, he said. Dozens of buildings were damaged. Share Updated at 23.49 EST
3d ago 22.47 EST Donald Trump continued his pressure on Volodymyr Zelenskyy in comments to reporters before he left the White House for his home in Florida on Friday. The US president said he wanted an “immediate” ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine and warned Zelenskyy to make peace or lose US support, the Associated Press reports.
“I want it to end immediately,” Trump said. “I want a ceasefire now.”
He repeated his earlier comments that Ukraine had a weak hand, saying: “You can’t embolden somebody that doesn’t have the cards.” Without US support, Ukraine would lose, Trump said. You saw what I saw today. This is a man that wants to get us signed up and keep fighting. We’re not doing that. Share
3d ago 22.24 EST Ukrainians have rallied around Volodymyr Zelenskyy as a defender of his country’s interests following his tumultuous meeting at the White House. Many Ukrainians seemed unfazed by the blowout, expressing a sense that the Ukrainian leader had stood up for their country’s dignity and interests, the Associated Press reports. Nataliia Serhiienko, 67, a retiree in Kyiv, said she thought Ukrainians approved of their president’s performance in Washington “because Zelenskyy fought like a lion”. Oleh Syniehubov, head of the Kharkiv region that borders Russia, praised Zelenskyy after the tense exchanges, saying: Our leader, despite the pressure, stands firm in defending the interests of Ukraine and Ukrainians. Share Updated at 22.25 EST
3d ago 21.50 EST Rubio says Zelenskyy should apologise – report US secretary of state Marco Rubio has said Volodymyr Zelenskyy should apologise after his meeting with Donald Trump devolved into what Rubio described as a “fiasco”, according to a CNN report, while questioning whether the Ukrainian leader really wants a peace deal. In an interview with the news outlet, Rubio called on Zelenskyy to “apologise for turning this thing into the fiasco for him that it became”, after his US meeting with Trump and JD Vance became a shouting match. “There was no need for him to go in there and become antagonistic,” Rubio said on Friday. When you start talking about that aggressively – and the president is a deal maker, he made deals his entire life – you’re not going to get people to the table. And so you start to perceive that maybe Zelenskyy doesn’t want a peace deal. He says he does, but maybe he doesn’t. View image in fullscreen US secretary of state Marco Rubio. Photograph: Craig Hudson/Reuters As the report continued: Rubio’s remarks underlined the serious damage that has been done to the US-Ukrainian relationship at the end of a week that also saw the leaders of the UK and France visit Washington to make the case to Trump that the US needs to mediate an end to the war that doesn’t prioritise Russian president Vladimir Putin’s interests over Zelensky’s. Share Updated at 22.01 EST
3d ago 21.16 EST Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed regret that the Oval Office meeting with Donald Trump devolved into a shocking display of acrimony between the leaders of two historically allied nations but is insisting their relationship can be salvaged, Lauren Gambino is reporting. Hours after the public confrontation in which Trump and Vice-president JD Vance berated Zelenskyy, accusing him of “gambling with world war three”, the Ukrainian leader defended himself during an in-studio interview on Fox News, while also agreeing that the dispute was “not good for both sides”. Asked by the host, Bret Baier, if he felt like he owed the US president an apology, as many of Trump’s Republican allies have demanded, Zelenskyy did not directly answer. Baier pressed, and asked again whether he owes Trump an apology. Zelenskyy again did not answer, saying instead: I think that we have to be very open and very honest. And I’m not sure that we did something bad. You can read the full report here: Zelenskyy admits Trump White House meeting ‘not good for both sides’ Read more Share
3d ago 20.57 EST Continuing from the last post with world leaders’ reactions to the fiery meeting at the White House. European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen on X: Your dignity honors the bravery of the Ukrainian people. Be strong, be brave, be fearless. You are never alone, dear President. We will continue working with you for a just and lasting peace. Moldovan president Maia Sandu on X: The truth is simple. Russia invaded Ukraine. Russia is the aggressor. Ukraine defends its freedom – and ours. We stand with Ukraine. View image in fullscreen Moldova’s Maia Sandu. Photograph: Dumitru Doru/EPA Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez on X: Ukraine, Spain stands with you. Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán on X: Strong men make peace, weak men make war. Today President @realDonaldTrump stood bravely for peace. Even if it was difficult for many to digest. Thank you, Mr. President! Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia’s security council, on Telegram: A brutal dressing down in the Oval Office. Czech president Petr Pavel on X: We stand with Ukraine more than ever. Time for Europe to step up its efforts. Norwegian prime minister Jonas Gahr Støre in a statement to TV2: What we saw from the White House today is serious and disheartening … That Trump accuses Zelenskiy of gambling with world war three is deeply unreasonable and a statement I distance myself from. Norway stands with Ukraine in their struggle for freedom. View image in fullscreen Norwegian prime minister Jonas Gahr Store, right, with Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Munich in February. Photograph: Javad Parsa/EPA Dutch prime minister Dick Schoof: The Netherlands continues to support Ukraine. Especially now. We want lasting peace and an end to the war of aggression that Russia has started. For Ukraine, for all its inhabitants and for Europe. Estonian foreign minister Margus Tsahkna on X: The only obstacle to peace is [Russian President Vladimir] Putin’s decision to continue his war of aggression. If Russia stops fighting, there will be no war. If Ukraine stops fighting, there will be no Ukraine. Estonia’s support to Ukraine remains unwavering. Time for Europe to step up. Polish prime minister Donald Tusk on X: Dear @ZelenskyyUa, dear Ukrainian friends, you are not alone. – With Reuters Share Updated at 21.22 EST
3d ago 20.27 EST World leaders react to Trump-Zelenskyy clash The Trump-Zelenskyy clashes in the Oval Office prompted an outpouring of reaction from around the world. Here’s a cross-section of leaders’ comments, care of Reuters. Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau on X: Russia illegally and unjustifiably invaded Ukraine. For three years now, Ukrainians have fought with courage and resilience. Their fight for democracy, freedom, and sovereignty is a fight that matters to us all. Canada will continue to stand with Ukraine and Ukrainians in achieving a just and lasting peace. German chancellor Olaf Scholz: No one wants peace more than the citizens of Ukraine! That is why we are jointly seeking the path to a lasting and just peace. Ukraine can rely on Germany – and on Europe. French president Emmanuel Macron: Russia is the aggressor, and Ukraine is the aggressed people. I think we were all right to help Ukraine and sanction Russia three years ago, and to continue to do so … they are fighting for their dignity, their independence, their children and the security of Europe. These are simple things, but they’re good to remember at times like these, that’s all. View image in fullscreen ‘Russia is the aggressor’: Emmanuel Macron. Photograph: Jeanne Accorsini/SIPA/REX/Shutterstock Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni: Every division of the west makes us all weaker and favours those who would like to see the decline of our civilisation. Not of its power or influence but of the principles that founded it, first and foremost freedom. A division would not benefit anyone. What is needed is an immediate summit between the United States, European states and allies to talk frankly about how we intend to deal with the great challenges of today, starting with Ukraine … This is the proposal that Italy intends to make to its partners in the coming hours. Spokesperson for UK prime minister Keir Starmer: He retains his unwavering support for Ukraine and is playing his part to find a path forward to a lasting peace, based on sovereignty and security for Ukraine. Danish foreign minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen on Facebook: It’s a punch in the gut for Ukraine. ... There must be room for robust conversations – even between friends. But when it happens in front of rolling cameras like that, there is only one winner. And he sits in the Kremlin. Share Updated at 01.39 EST
3d ago 20.12 EST Australia’s prime minister has reiterated his country’s support for Ukraine after the fiery meeting between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy but has declined to comment directly on how the confrontation might affect Australia’s relationship with the US. Donna Lu reports that Anthony Albanese was asked about Australia’s support for Ukraine at a press conference on Saturday morning and the PM said: “We will continue to stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes. Because this is the struggle of a democratic nation versus an authoritarian regime led by Vladimir Putin, who clearly has imperialistic designs not just on Ukraine but throughout that region.” Pressed specifically about the “extraordinary” exchange between Trump and Zelenskyy, Australia’s prime minister avoided discussing Trump directly, saying: “I am responsible for Australia’s foreign policy. Australia’s foreign policy is determined by Australia.” To read the full story, click here: Albanese sidesteps questions on Trump as he backs Zelenskyy after White House confrontation Read more Share
3d ago 19.51 EST Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said his relationship with the US can still be repaired after the heated exchanges with Donald Trump and JD Vance in the White House. “Of course,” Zelensky said when asked in a Fox News interview if the relationship with Trump could be salvaged. US-Ukrainian ties were about “more than two presidents”, he said, adding that Ukraine badly needed Washington’s help in the fight against Russia’s far bigger and better-armed military. “It will be difficult without your support,” Zelensky said on Fox. Agence France-Presse also reports that Zelenskyy’s olive branch came hours after Friday’s extraordinary Oval Office scene where the years-long US policy of huge support for Ukraine against Russia collapsed in a shouting match. President Trump told journalists later Friday that Zelenskyy was “overplaying his hand” and should agree to end fighting “immediately”. Zelensky, however, refused to apologise, telling Fox News: “I’m not sure that we did something bad.” But he also said he wished the exchange had not taken place in front of reporters. Share Updated at 19.54 EST
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[1] Url:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/feb/28/volodymyr-zelenskyy-donald-trump-us-minerals-deal-russia-ukraine-live-news
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