Trump Tells Zelenskyy: 'Come Back When You're Ready for Peace' After White House Blowup

Conversations about a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia hit a major snag Friday after a tense meeting between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. A White House official confirmed that the exchange led to a canceled press conference, a minerals deal being taken off the table, and Trump essentially telling the Ukrainian president to get out. Trump accused Zelenskyy of "disrespecting" the U.S. during their meeting and suggested the Ukrainian leader wasn't serious about securing peace for his country. Trump didn't hold back, stating on Truth Social that Zelenskyy isn't ready for peace if America's involved because he thinks our involvement gives him an edge in negotiations. "I don't want advantage, I want PEACE. He disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office. He can come back when he is ready for Peace." Zelenskyy's visit to Washington was intended to finalize a minerals agreement, granting the U.S. access to Ukraine’s resources in exchange for ongoing support since Russia's invasion in 2022. Things went south quickly. After Zelenskyy expressed distrust in Vladimir Putin, citing broken agreements, Trump and Vice President JD Vance reportedly accused Zelenskyy of being ungrateful for U.S. support and being in a "bad position" at the negotiating table. Trump reportedly said, "You're playing cards. You're gambling with the lives of millions of people. You're gambling with World War III. You're gambling with World War III. And what you're doing is very disrespectful to the country, this country." After Vance pointed out Ukraine’s manpower and military recruiting issues, Zelenskyy retorted that war brings problems for everyone, including the U.S., "in the future." Trump's response? "Don't tell us what we're going to feel. We're trying to solve a problem. Don't tell us what we're going to feel. You are in no position to dictate that, remember that." Vance also questioned Zelenskyy's gratitude, asking if he had said "thank you once this entire meeting," prompting Zelenskyy to accuse Vance of speaking "loudly." Trump then chimed in, warning Zelenskyy that Ukraine was in "big trouble." Despite the heated exchange, Zelenskyy told reporters he believes the U.S. is on Ukraine’s side and stressed the importance of stopping Putin's aggression. He also highlighted the importance of European assistance, leading Trump to interject that U.S. contributions were more significant—a claim Zelenskyy disputed. Financial assistance figures vary, but Congress has reportedly allocated $175 billion to Ukraine since 2022. European assistance totaled roughly $138.7 billion between January 2022 and December 2024, with the U.S. contributing $119.7 billion during that period. After leaving the White House, Zelenskyy posted on X, expressing gratitude to the U.S. for its support. Trump later told reporters that the meeting "didn't work out exactly great from (Zelenskyy's) standpoint," accusing him of overplaying his hand and wanting to "fight, fight, fight" instead of seeking peace. When asked if he told Zelenskyy to leave, Trump responded, "I think you know the answer to it." Tensions have been brewing between Zelenskyy and Trump as the U.S. navigates peace negotiations. After U.S. officials met with Russian officials in Saudi Arabia without Ukraine, Zelenskyy stated, "Nobody decides anything behind our back." The two leaders have since traded barbs, with Zelenskyy accusing Trump of spreading Russian "disinformation" and Trump labeling Zelenskyy a "dictator." On Thursday, Trump softened his stance, telling reporters he couldn't believe he called Zelenskyy a dictator. He also said peace negotiations were in their final stages but remained cautious about sharing details until a deal is finalized, expressing confidence that Putin would honor any agreement reached. Fox News' Jacqui Heinrich and Emma Colton contributed to this report.