U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky clashed during a White House meeting, leading Trump to ask Zelensky to leave.
After the heated exchange, Trump consulted Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Besant, and other top advisers. Trump and Vance accused Zelensky of showing little gratitude for U.S. aid, a White House official said.
Trump then decided Zelensky was “not ready to negotiate peace.”
“He told Rubio and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz to deliver the message: Zelensky had to go,” the source said.
The Ukrainian delegation waited in a separate room, which is standard during foreign leader visits.
“They usually gather for lunch,” the official said. “But as meals were placed on a cart near the press secretary’s office, the Ukrainians were told to leave.”
Zelensky’s team protested and wanted to continue talks, but officials denied the request. Soon after, Trump posted on Truth Social while Rubio and Waltz informed Zelensky of his decision.
“I sensed hostility in Zelensky’s body language,” the official said. Trump skipped their planned lunch, leaving future U.S.-Ukraine talks uncertain.
CNN also confirmed that the U.S.-Ukraine minerals deal remained unsigned.
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