In an extraordinary and shameful meeting before the world’s press in the White House on 28 February 2025, US President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance attacked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, accusing him of disrespectful behaviour towards the United States, of gambling with the lives of millions and with the third world war and told him to stop holding out for further security guarantees saying “you’re either going to make a deal or we are out”. The meeting was supposed to lead to the signing of an agreement whereby the US would gain extraction rights to some Ukrainian minerals.

Zelensky said there should be “no compromises” with Russian President Vladimir Putin, but Trump says Kyiv will have to make concessions to reach a peace deal with Russia.

The video below shows the full meeting.