Zelensky ordered to leave White House without signing minerals deal after Oval Office clash with Trump
Editor's note: This is a developing story and is being updated.
President Volodymyr Zelensky left the White House early without signing a mineral deal with the United States following a heated exchange with President Donald Trump on Feb. 28.
Zelensky departed in his motorcade around 1:45 p.m. local time, without holding a joint news conference scheduled for later in the day, after the two leaders got into a heated argument while speaking with journalists in the Oval Office.
"He disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office. He can come back when he is ready for peace," Trump posted on TruthSocial.
CNN reported that following the exchange, Zelensky and Trump left to separate rooms, with the Ukrainian delegation wanting to continue talks with the Trump administration.
Trump later ordered his officials to tell the Ukrainian officials to leave the White House, despite protest from the Ukrainian delegation.
A source familiar with the matter told CNN that the mineral deal between the U.S. and Ukraine was not signed following the tense exchange.
A White House official told Reuters that Trump felt "disrespected" by Zelensky's "rhetoric and demeanor," adding that Trump is not ruling an agreement with Zelensky, but it will be up to Kyiv to reschedule the meeting.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Feb. 28, after meeting with Zelensky at the White House, that Zelensky "is not ready for peace."
Following the meeting, Zelensky commented on the meeting on social media, thanking the United States for their support. His comments likely come in response to Vice President JD Vance's assertion amid the clash that Ukraine was not grateful for the U.S.' support.
Thank you America, thank you for your support, thank you for this visit. Thank you @POTUS, Congress, and the American people.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) February 28, 2025
Ukraine needs just and lasting peace, and we are working exactly for that.
"Have you said thank you once? In this entire meeting, have you said thank you?" Vance asked during the exchange.
"Thank you America, thank you for your support, thank you for this visit," Zelensky wrote on X.
"Thank you POTUS, Congress, and the American people. Ukraine needs just and lasting peace, and we are working exactly for that."
The Kyiv Independent
