Washington, D.C.: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called for greater support from Donald Trump following their tense and highly publicized clash at the White House. Speaking to Fox News, Zelensky emphasized that the strained relationship between the two wartime allies “can be fixed”, but urged Trump to be “really more on our side.”
The fallout from their meeting has further deepened tensions between Kyiv and Washington. Trump, who has repeatedly claimed that Russian President Vladimir Putin is ready to end the war, reportedly told Zelensky that Ukraine must consider peace talks—a stance the Ukrainian leader outright rejected. Zelensky insisted that Ukraine “won’t negotiate with Russia until there are firm security guarantees against another invasion.”
The meeting, which was meant to solidify economic and military cooperation, collapsed into a heated exchange before global media. Reports indicate that Trump and Vice President JD Vance accused Zelensky of showing ‘disrespect’, pushing US-Ukraine relations to a new low. A US official told Reuters that Zelensky was asked to leave following the confrontation.
Adding to the diplomatic fallout, a crucial agreement on developing Ukraine’s vast natural resources—a deal Kyiv and its European allies hoped would strengthen ties with Washington—remained unsigned.
European leaders swiftly backed Zelensky, with German chancellor candidate Friedrich Merz warning, “We must never confuse aggressor and victim in this terrible war.”
