Gambiaj.com – (Washington, D.C.) – Never before has an American president berated his visitor like Trump did to Zelensky on Friday in the Oval Office, leading to an almost real-time breakdown in relations between Washington and Kyiv. Trump at one point threatened to give up on Ukraine entirely.

The heated exchange, which unfolded in front of television cameras, saw Trump and Vice President JD Vance raise their voices at Zelensky, accusing him of obstructing a potential peace agreement with Russia. Trump’s frustration boiled over as he castigated the Ukrainian leader for what he perceived as a lack of gratitude for U.S. military aid.

“You’re right now, not really in a very good position. You’ve allowed yourself to be in a very bad position,” Trump said. “You don’t have the cards right now. With us, you start having cards.”

“I’m not playing cards,” Zelensky shot back.

Abrupt End to Talks, Scrapped Agreements

Following the tense exchange, the two leaders retreated to separate rooms. According to a White House official, Trump then ordered that the Ukrainian delegation be asked to leave. Despite protests from the Ukrainians, their request to continue talks was denied. A planned joint press conference was abruptly canceled, and Zelensky left the White House in his black SUV without signing a critical agreement granting U.S. access to Ukraine’s rare earth minerals.

In the aftermath, Trump took to social media, declaring that Zelensky was not welcome back until he was “ready for peace.” Meanwhile, Zelensky maintained a diplomatic tone in his response, posting on X, “Thank you America, thank you for your support, thank you for this visit. Thank you @POTUS, Congress, and the American people.” Ukraine’s Defense Ministry struck a defiant note on Telegram, stating, “We have our own things to do. Glory to Ukraine.”

Zelensky also scrapped his planned speech at the Hudson Institute, further signaling the extent of the fallout from the Oval Office confrontation.

Trump Administration Spins Fallout as Strength

Attempting to reframe the diplomatic debacle as a show of strength, the Trump administration quickly dispatched allies, including Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, to the White House lawn to call on Zelensky to apologize. The White House issued a statement asserting that “President Trump and VP Vance are standing up for Americans.”

However, the very public acrimony has raised alarm across Europe, where leaders have been working to caution Trump about Russian President Vladimir Putin’s ambitions in Ukraine. Many fear that the Oval Office blow-up could have lasting implications for efforts to secure peace and stability in the region.

Despite the spin, it was a catastrophic end to a diplomatic week that began on a hopeful note at the White House, where French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer visited in hopes of paving the way to a security agreement with Ukraine. Many observers believe that with voices raised in the Oval Office, Trump unleashed years of pent-up frustration toward Russia and Ukraine, which led to his first impeachment.

Zelensky Turns to European Allies

In the wake of the disastrous meeting, Zelensky moved quickly to shore up international support. He held urgent calls with French President Emmanuel Macron, European Council President António Costa, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. Many European leaders have issued official statements in support of President Zelensky and the people of Ukraine, but the diplomatic fallout is already sending shockwaves across the Atlantic.

As tensions between Washington and Kyiv reach new heights, the world is left questioning what comes next in the precarious U.S.-Ukraine relationship.