Fri Feb 28 16:43:48 UTC 2025: ## Trump and Zelenskyy Clash Publicly in White House Over Ukraine Truce
**Washington, D.C. –** A highly publicized meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy devolved into a public shouting match in the Oval Office on Friday. The two leaders clashed sharply over the terms of a potential truce with Russia, with Trump urging Zelenskyy to make significant compromises and Zelenskyy vehemently rejecting any concessions to what he called Russia’s “killer” leader, Vladimir Putin.
The contentious exchange, witnessed by numerous journalists, followed an initially cordial start to the meeting. However, the friendly facade quickly crumbled as Trump, joined by Vice President J.D. Vance, berated Zelenskyy for his perceived lack of gratitude for U.S. aid and his unwillingness to negotiate. Trump issued an ultimatum: “You either make a deal or we’re out.”
Zelenskyy, showing Trump graphic images of war atrocities, insisted on no compromises with Putin, citing the deportation of Ukrainian children and other war crimes committed during Russia’s three-year invasion. He stressed the importance of a U.S. security “backstop” for any European peacekeeping efforts.
Trump, who has recently shifted U.S. policy toward a more mediating role between Russia and Ukraine, revealed he’s had more contact with Putin than previously reported and claimed a truce is imminent. He also touted a proposed resource deal granting the U.S. access to Ukrainian rare-earth minerals as part of post-truce recovery efforts.
Zelenskyy’s counter-request for Trump to visit Ukraine concluded the heated exchange. This dramatic public disagreement highlights the growing strain in U.S.-Ukraine relations following Trump’s significant policy shift. The incident underscores the deep divisions over how to end the ongoing conflict.
First Piper 