A crucial meeting on Ukraine’s mineral wealth took an unexpected turn at the White House on Friday (February 28). Instead of a diplomatic discussion, US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy got into a heated argument. As a result, the meeting ended abruptly, and tensions escalated.
Russia Mocks the Incident
Meanwhile, Russia found the situation amusing. However, what surprised them most was that Trump did not physically confront Zelenskyy.
Reacting on Telegram, Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova mocked the exchange. She wrote, “How Trump and (Vice President JD) Vance held back from hitting that scumbag is a miracle of restraint.”
Furthermore, she accused Zelenskyy of lying. She claimed he falsely stated that Ukraine had no support from Western allies in 2022.
Medvedev’s Harsh Response
Similarly, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev criticized Zelenskyy on social media. He urged the US to stop sending aid to Ukraine’s military.
Calling Zelenskyy an “insolent pig,” Medvedev said, “For the first time, Trump told the cocaine clown the truth to his face: the Kyiv regime is gambling with World War III…That’s a good thing, but not enough – we must stop military aid to the Nazi machine.”
Additionally, he said the Ukrainian leader received “a proper slap down in the Oval Office.”
Zelenskyy and Vance Argue
Meanwhile, tensions grew between Zelenskyy and US Vice President JD Vance over Russia’s 2014 invasion of Crimea.
At one point, Vance scolded Zelenskyy, saying, “I think it’s disrespectful for you to come to the Oval Office to try to litigate this in front of the American media. … You should be thanking the president for trying to bring you into this conference.”
Meeting Ends Abruptly
After the heated exchanges, Zelenskyy decided to cut his visit short and left the White House. Consequently, the much-anticipated minerals deal was not signed. The White House later confirmed this development.
Shortly after leaving, Zelenskyy posted a message on social media. He wrote, “Thank you, America, thank you for your support, thank you for this visit. Thank you @POTUS, Congress, and the American people. Ukraine needs just and lasting peace, and we are working exactly for that.”