‘You’re gambling with World War III’: In Oval Office clash, Trump and Zelenskyy spar over US support in Ukraine war | World News

Trump, who has repeatedly pushed for an end to the war and questioned US involvement, made it clear that he wanted a quick resolution, even as Zelenskyy warned that an abrupt ceasefire could embolden Russian President Vladimir Putin to rearm and reignite the conflict. In the Oval Office, Trump’s frustration boiled over as he pressed Zelenskyy to accept the inevitability of a peace deal — on terms that Kyiv fears would be too lenient toward Moscow.

The stakes for Ukraine

For Zelenskyy, the stakes of the meeting could not have been higher. Ukraine’s survival in the face of Russia’s unprovoked invasion depends largely on continued military and financial support from the United States. In his plea to Trump, Zelenskyy stressed the importance of strong US backing to deter future aggression from Russia.

President Donald Trump, right, meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office at the White House. (AP)

“We will never accept just a ceasefire,” Zelenskyy told Trump during the meeting, making his position clear. He argued that without robust security guarantees, any temporary cessation of hostilities would allow Russia to regroup and launch further offensives. His message was urgent: the conflict may be costly, but peace without security could be even more dangerous.

Yet, as the two leaders debated the path forward, it was clear that Zelenskyy was struggling to win over Trump, who has become increasingly critical of the war effort.

Trump’s frustration: ‘You don’t have the cards right now’

Trump, who has long prided himself on his ability to strike deals, approached the meeting with a different perspective. He has argued for months that the United States’s involvement in the Ukraine war has become too costly, both in terms of financial resources and human lives. His administration has expressed frustration with the continued flow of US military aid to Ukraine, insisting that the time has come to bring the war to a close.

“You’re in no position to dictate what we’re going to feel,” Trump told Zelenskyy at one point during the meeting. “You don’t have the cards right now.”

Trump’s remarks laid bare his scepticism toward Zelenskyy, whom he had labelled a “dictator” just days earlier. The US President appeared to blame Ukraine for prolonging the conflict, even though Russia’s invasion in 2022 was widely condemned as an act of unprovoked aggression. For Trump, the conflict represented an unacceptable drain on US resources — a point he repeatedly emphasized during the tense exchange.

“You’re gambling with World War III,” Trump told Zelenskyy, pointing to the escalating death toll in the conflict. He questioned why the Ukrainian president was not more open to a ceasefire, which Trump believed could prevent further bloodshed.

A disputed dynamic

The clash in the Oval Office grew more heated when Vice President JD Vance, who has publicly echoed Trump’s scepticism about US involvement in Ukraine, weighed in. Vance accused Zelenskyy of disrespecting the American administration by challenging its stance in front of the media.

“Have you said thank you once?” Vance asked pointedly, referring to the billions of dollars in military aid the US has provided to Ukraine since the war began.

Zelenskyy, who had carefully prepared for the meeting, reiterated his gratitude for US support, but emphasized that Ukraine’s survival required more than just short-term aid — it needed long-term security guarantees. To underscore the stakes, Zelenskyy presented Trump with folders filled with pictures of civilians affected by the war.

“Even in war, there are rules,” Zelenskyy said as he showed images of Ukrainian men and women impacted by the conflict. “These guys [the Russians], they don’t have rules.”

Trump’s faith in Putin

Trump’s frustration with Zelenskyy contrasted sharply with his optimistic view of Russia’s intentions. He has repeatedly expressed confidence that Putin is willing to end the war, despite mounting evidence to the contrary. Trump’s faith in Putin was on full display during the Oval Office encounter, where he cast himself as a mediator between Ukraine and Russia — a role he believed President Joe Biden’s administration had failed to assume.

“I hope I’ll be known and recognized as a peacemaker,” Trump said during the meeting, noting that he hoped to open up channels of communication with Moscow to broker a deal. Despite his combative tone with Zelenskyy, Trump maintained that he was committed to ending the war through diplomatic means.

He also reaffirmed that the United States would continue to provide military assistance to Ukraine, though he added that he was eager to “get it done quickly” so that resources could be redirected toward rebuilding rather than continued fighting.

“I give tremendous gratitude, generals and your soldiers and yourself,” Trump told Zelenskyy, acknowledging the toll the war had taken on Ukraine. “But now we want to get it over. It’s enough.”

UN vote and the changing political landscape

Trump’s comments come on the heels of a controversial vote at the United Nations marking the anniversary of Russia’s invasion. In that vote, US sided with Russia and North Korea in opposing a resolution condemning the invasion, a move that shocked much of the international community and raised questions about US policy on the war under Trump’s leadership.

Trump’s alignment with Russia in that vote has only deepened concerns among Ukraine’s allies that the US may be on the verge of pulling back its support. Zelenskyy, aware of those shifting dynamics, made a direct appeal to Trump during the meeting.

“I hope that together we can stop [Putin],” Zelenskyy said, urging Trump to maintain a strong position against Russia’s aggression. “But for us, it is very important to save our country, our values, our freedom, democracy.”

Supporters of Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy rally outside of the White House in Washington. (AP)

Despite the rising tensions, the meeting ended with some of the diplomatic niceties typical of such encounters. Trump reassured Zelenskyy that the United States remained committed to NATO and to protecting Poland, one of Ukraine’s key allies in the region.

But the underlying tension between the two leaders was impossible to ignore. As Trump continues to push for a peace deal — one that many fear could favour Russia — the future of US involvement in Ukraine’s war remains uncertain.

The path forward

For Zelenskyy, the path forward depends on convincing the United States and other Western allies to stand firm against Russia’s aggression. But as Trump and his administration seek a swift end to the conflict, Kyiv’s future may hinge on whether a peace deal can be struck that both deters Putin from future invasions and satisfies Trump’s desire to bring the war to a close.

As the war grinds on, the stakes for both leaders remain immense. For Trump, the desire to be seen as a peacemaker is a central part of his legacy-building efforts. For Zelenskyy, the very survival of his country may depend on whether he can secure the guarantees necessary to keep Putin at bay.

With diplomatic tensions running high and the war showing no signs of abating, the Oval Office meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy underscored just how difficult it will be to find a path forward that satisfies both Washington and Kyiv.