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Trump and Zelenskyy in heated Oval Office discussion

Trump and Zelenskyy in heated Oval Office discussion
By Jillian Kestler-D'Amours, Brian Osgood, Alastair McCready and Nils Adler
Published On 28 Feb 2025

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1 Mar 2025 - 14:58
 (14:58 GMT)

That’s a wrap from us

Thank you for joining our live coverage of the explosive and extraordinary shouting match between Trump, Vance and Zelenskyy at the White House before the world’s media.

You can check out how leaders around the world reacted here. For more reaction, including from within the US, go here and read this story to get up to speed with all the latest developments.

Finally, you can also watch the unprecedented scenes that unfolded at the Oval Office here.

 

1 Mar 2025 - 14:45
 (14:45 GMT)

Here’s what happened today

We’ll be closing this live page soon, so let’s bring you up to speed with some of today’s main developments:

  • European leaders are rallying behind Ukraine after President Volodymyr Zelensky clashed with US President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance at the White House on Friday evening.
  • Zelenskyy has arrived in the UK in advance of a summit on Sunday organised by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer with other European leaders.
  • The Ukrainian president is due to hold talks with Starmer this afternoon.
  • Despite the Oval Office blowup, Zelenskyy has thanked the US several times and said he is hoping for “strong relations”.
  • Russia has described the spat between the leaders of US and Ukraine as a “complete political and diplomatic failure” for Kyiv.
1 Mar 2025 - 14:30
 (14:30 GMT)

‘It was very pleasing that he got such a rebuke’: Russians react to White House clash

Here’s a collection of quotes from people in Moscow reacting to the Oval Office spat yesterday:

  • “Frankly speaking, it was very pleasing that he got such a rebuke in the White House,” nursery worker Galina Tolstykh told AFP. “And it was nice that things were finally starting to go in the right direction.”
  • “It was very strange and very uncomplimentary for Zelenskyy as a president,” 20-year-old waiter Fyodor told the news agency. “It seems to me that this is not the way a president of a country should behave,” he said of Zelenskyy. “Trump himself said a very true thing, that Ukraine has no winning cards in its hands,” Fyodor said. “Except for signing a peace agreement and signing a ceasefire agreement in general, they don’t have many options.”
  • Anastasia, a 26-year-old waitress, said: “It’s not good, of course, that this situation happened. But in general, we are all glad that everything is going to its logical conclusion.”
  • Marchel, 56-year-old psychologist, said: “By and large, everyone is fed up with this war, not only Russia, but the whole world.”
1 Mar 2025 - 14:15
 (14:15 GMT)

‘New age of infamy has begun’

We have some more comments by Annalena Baerbock, the foreign minister of Germany.

“Yesterday evening underlined that a new age of infamy has begun,” she said in a televised statement.

Baerbock also said the “unspeakable” row between Trump and Zelenskyy in the White House resembled a “bad dream”.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock [File: Sean Gallup/Getty Images]
1 Mar 2025 - 14:00
 (14:00 GMT)

‘Took my breath away’: German president slams Trump’s conduct with Zelenskyy

We have more comments by European officials reacting to the scenes that unfolded on Friday in the Oval Office.

“Diplomacy fails when negotiating partners are humiliated in front of the whole world,” German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier told dpa, the German news agency, during a flight to Uruguay.

“The scene in the White House yesterday took my breath away. I would never have believed that we would one day have to protect Ukraine from the USA.”

Separately, Germany’s foreign minister called for an immediate increase in German support for Ukraine and said there should be massive investments in European defence.

Annalena Baerbock also said European leaders must make decisions on a comprehensive financial package for Ukraine and said there should be closer collaboration with countries such as Poland, France and others about Ukraine’s defence.

1 Mar 2025 - 13:45
 (13:45 GMT)

France’s Macron says Putin, not Zelenskyy, gambling with World War III

Reacting to Trump’s accusation that Zelenskyy is “gambling with World War III”, Macron says if someone is doing so, that’s the president of Russia.

“If anyone is gambling with World War III, his name is Vladimir Putin,” the French president told Portugal’s RTP news channel during a visit to Lisbon.

Macron, who held talks with Trump at the White House on Monday, said he still hopes the US will “continue to stand by its history and its principles”.

“Whenever we have had major conflicts, the United States of America has been on the right side of history and freedom,” Macron said.

1 Mar 2025 - 13:30
 (13:30 GMT)

Watching White House meeting was like a ‘cold shower’, says Kyiv resident

We have gathered more reactions from Ukrainians about the meeting between Zelenskyy and Trump.

Alina Zhaivoronko, from Kyiv, said Ukrainians are “very thankful” to the US “for the help we have received all this time and keep receiving now. But our dignity, out honour, should stand above everything.

“It was an unpleasant shock, like we were in a cold shower. It was a very unexpected format of discussion. But there are two sides to this. Diplomatically, President Zelenskyy should have kept to the norms and rules. But on the other side, it was a provocation,” she told Reuters.

“Many European countries voice their support of Ukraine. We hope they will step up to increase aid to Ukraine, primarily with military equipment and ammunition.”

Liudmyla Stetsevych, a 47-year-old from Kyiv, also told the news agency: “I doubt that we could stand without the American help. They have helped us a lot with weapons and money. Maybe Europe will help us. I look at all of this and see the division of the world. Trump and Putin divide the world between themselves.”

Trump, left, greets Zelenskyy outside the West Wing of the White House [Shawn Thew/EPA-EFE]
1 Mar 2025 - 13:15
 (13:15 GMT)

Zelenskyy’s White House visit was a ‘failure’: Russia

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova says that Zelenskyy’s visit to the US was “a complete political and diplomatic failure”.

“The sobering dressing down” given to the Ukrainian president was “unprecedented in the history of international politics and diplomacy”, she said in a statement.

Zakharova argued that it was “also evidence of the political weakness and extreme moral degradation of those European leaders” who continue to advocate for the support of the Ukrainian president who she claimed had “lost touch with reality”.

Maria Zakharova, the spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry [File: Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP Photo]
1 Mar 2025 - 13:00
 (13:00 GMT)

Germany’s economy minister calls for release of $3.1bn for Ukraine

Robert Habeck, Germany’s economy minister and vice chancellor, has called for the swift release of 3 billion euros ($3.1bn) for Ukraine’s defence.

“In order to secure the necessary support for Ukraine, we should now do what we can in the short term,” he said, according to Reuters.

1 Mar 2025 - 12:45
 (12:45 GMT)

Three killed in Ukrainian attack on Russian-controlled part of Kherson region

Vladimir Saldo, the Russian-installed governor in Kherson, says two people were killed on a road between the villages of Nova Maiachka and Obryvka, while the third was killed in the town of Oleshky.

Five other people were wounded to varying degrees of severity, Saldo said via his channel on Telegram.

After Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, its forces captured the city of Kherson.

In August 2022, Ukraine took the city of Kherson back in a counteroffensive and pushed Russian forces onto the Dnipro River’s left bank. Russian forces still control parts of the Kherson region.

1 Mar 2025 - 12:30
 (12:30 GMT)

Here’s how Europe reacted to furious Oval Office exchange

  • European Union: European Union chiefs Ursula von der Leyen and Antonio Costa assured Zelenskyy that he was “never alone”. “Be strong, be brave, be fearless,” wrote the European commission and European council presidents in a joint statement, adding: “We will continue working with you for a just and lasting peace.” The bloc’s top diplomat Kaja Kallas said on social media: “Today, it became clear that the free world needs a new leader. It’s up to us, Europeans, to take this challenge.”
  • France: “There is an aggressor which is Russia. There is an aggressed people which is Ukraine,” President Emmanuel Macron told journalists, adding: “We were all right to help Ukraine and sanction Russia three years ago and to continue to do so.” He said “if anyone is playing at World War III, it’s Vladimir Putin,” referring to Trump’s accusations against Zelenskyy.
  • Germany: Friedrich Merz, the country’s likely next chancellor said: “We must never confuse the aggressor and the victim in this terrible war.” Outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz also backed Ukraine, as did Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, who said Kyiv’s “quest for peace and security is ours”.
  • Hungary: Prime Minister Viktor Orban, a close partner of Trump and Putin, thanked the US president for standing “bravely for peace”. “Strong men make peace, weak men make war,” Orban said on X.
  • Italy: Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called for the US, Europe and their allies to hold talks on the Ukraine war. “A summit without delay is needed … to talk frankly about how we intend to tackle today’s major challenges, starting with Ukraine, which together we have defended in recent years,” she said.
  • Netherlands: “Dutch support for Ukraine remains undiminished. Especially now,” Prime Minister Dick Schoof said on X, adding, “We want lasting peace and an end to the war of aggression that Russia has started.”
  • Poland: “Dear Ukrainian friends, you are not alone,” Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on X.
  • Spain: Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said: “Ukraine, Spain stands with you.”
  • UK: Prime Minister Keir Starmer pledged “unwavering support” for Ukraine and spoke to both Trump and Zelenskyy following their meeting. Starmer “is doing all he can to find a path forward to a lasting peace based on sovereignty and security for Ukraine”, a Downing Street spokesperson said.
1 Mar 2025 - 12:15
 (12:15 GMT)

Zelenskyy says Ukraine wants ‘strong relations’ with US

The Ukrainian president has taken to social media to reiterate some of the comments he made during his interview with Fox News a few hours after abruptly leaving the White House yesterday.

“We are very grateful to the United States for all the support,” Zelenskyy wrote.

“I’m thankful to President Trump, Congress for their bipartisan support, and American people. Ukrainians have always appreciated this support, especially during these three years of full-scale invasion,” he said.

“Our relationship with the American President is more than just two leaders; it’s a historic and solid bond between our peoples. That’s why I always begin with words of gratitude from our nation to the American nation,” he added.

“American people helped save our people. Humans and human rights come first. We’re truly thankful. We want only strong relations with America, and I really hope we will have them,” Zelenskyy concluded.

1 Mar 2025 - 12:05
 (12:05 GMT)
Houthi

Zelenskyy to meet UK PM this afternoon

Zelenskyy has arrived in London and will meet Keir Starmer today, the British prime minister’s office says.

“The Prime Minister and President Zelenskyy will be meeting in Downing Street this afternoon,” a spokesperson for Starmer’s office said.

As we’ve been reporting, there will be a wider summit of European leaders held in London tomorrow.

1 Mar 2025 - 12:00
 (12:00 GMT)

Russia ready for flexibility in Ukraine talks – subject to ‘realities’ on the ground: Medvedev

Former President Dmitry Medvedev says Russia is ready for flexibility in talks on Ukraine but only in accordance with its constitution and realities on the ground, according to the state news agency RIA Novosti.

Medvedev, a Putin ally who served as Russia’s president from 2008 to 2012 and then as prime minister until becoming a top security official in 2020, said Russia was ready to discuss a settlement of the Ukrainian crisis but only with those “who are ready to communicate”.

Throughout the war, Medvedev has warned of nuclear action and penned countless social media posts showering Western leaders and nations with slurs and threats.

After Friday’s fiery meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy, he called the Ukrainian president an “insolent pig” who had received “a proper slapdown in the Oval Office”.

Deputy head of Russia’s Security Council Dmitry Medvedev takes part in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Moscow [File: Ekaterina Shtukina/Sputnik/Kremlin Pool Photo via AP]
1 Mar 2025 - 11:45
 (11:45 GMT)

Photos: Aftermath of Russian strike on Kharkiv

A medical worker sweeps up shards of glass in a hospital damaged by a Russian attack on Kharkiv [Andrii Marienko/AP Photo]
[Andrii Marienko/AP Photo]
[Andrii Marienko/AP Photo]

1 Mar 2025 - 11:30
 (11:30 GMT)

Turkish foreign minister to attend London meeting: Report

Speaking of Sunday’s summit in London, diplomatic sources have told Turkiye’s Anadolu news agency that Hakan Fidan will attend the meeting on Ukraine in London on behalf of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The Turkish foreign minister will exchange views on key aspects of the Russia-Ukraine war and reaffirm his country’s commitment to a just and lasting peace as well as support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence, Anadolu reported.

Fidan is also expected to underline Turkiye’s readiness to continue its mediating role in the conflict, it added.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan [File: Leonardo Fernandez Viloria/Reuters]
1 Mar 2025 - 11:15
 (11:15 GMT)

All eyes on Sunday’s London summit

By Milena Veselinovic

Reporting from London, UK

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will meet European leaders here in London tomorrow, and Zelenskyy is also expected to visit.

And though this summit was already in the books before yesterday’s disastrous Trump-Zelenskyy meeting, it now takes on even more heightened importance.

And that is because the European leaders are now contending with a real prospect of the US no longer supporting Ukraine militarily or perhaps withdrawing some of that support.

The European leaders really need to see if they can step up to the plate and if they can defend Ukraine on their own – something that many analysts believe would be a very tall order and a big challenge for Europe.

After the White House meeting, European leaders have almost universally come out in support of Ukraine.

But what is worrying them is something that seems to be even bigger than just the conflict in Ukraine. It seems that the US is no longer interested under Donald Trump in guaranteeing European security, which has been the cornerstone of relations since World War II – that is a fracturing of the world order as we know it.

1 Mar 2025 - 11:00
 (11:00 GMT)

Norway’s prime minister plans to raise financial support for Ukraine

Jonas Gahr Store has told the Norwegian Broadcasting Corp (NRK) that he will propose to parliament that Norway further increase its support to Ukraine.

Last year, Norway’s parliament agreed to provide 35 billion kroner ($3.1bn) to support Ukraine in 2025, according to the NRK.

Zelenskyy and Ukraine’s first lady, Olena Zelenska, greet Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store, left, in Kyiv [File: Handout/Ukrainian Presidential Press Service via AFP]
1 Mar 2025 - 10:45
 (10:45 GMT)

WATCH: Trump cuts talks with Zelenksyy short in heated meeting

It has been described as everything from explosive and extraordinary to unprecedented and historic. Relive the contentious Oval Office meeting of Zelenskyy, Trump and Vance:

1 Mar 2025 - 10:30
 (10:30 GMT)

Russia says it has captured two more villages in eastern Ukraine: Report

Russia’s Defence Ministry says its forces have taken control of the settlements of Burlatske and Skudne in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region, according to Russian news agency TASS.

Russia’s military has been reporting a slow but steady advance westwards across the region for months.

Ukrainian servicemen of the 43 Artillery Brigade fire a self-propelled cannon towards Russian positions in the Donetsk region on February 22 [Genya Savilov/AFP]