Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was warned not to engage in a heated exchange with U.S. President Donald Trump before their meeting in the Oval Office. The warning came just hours before the meeting from Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, who advised Zelensky not to debate Trump, particularly on security agreements.
Despite the warning, during the meeting, Zelensky expressed concerns about the uncertainty surrounding U.S. military support and called on Trump to take a more aggressive stance in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. This led to a heated exchange between the two presidents, witnessed openly by journalists.
Following the exchange, both President Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance accused Zelensky of lacking gratitude towards the U.S. The meeting, which was supposed to result in a rare mineral resource agreement between the two nations, ended abruptly as Zelensky unexpectedly left the White House.
Trump has repeatedly suggested that Ukraine should negotiate a peace agreement with Moscow, causing unease among Zelensky and his European allies. Senator Graham, who initially acted as a mediator, later suggested that Ukraine might need a new leader with whom the U.S. could work more effectively.
Despite criticism from several Republican senators, Zelensky remained firm in his stance. In a later interview with Fox News, he admitted that the exchange with Trump was intense but insisted it was necessary.