Trump blasts Zelensky on live TV at WH meeting: 'You're not winning this'

Ben Whedon
Just the News
Fri, 28 Feb 2025 21:59 UTC

© The white House

Trump accused Zelensky of ‘disrespect’ in failed peace talks, February 28, 2025

"Offer some words of appreciation for the United States of America and the president who's trying to save your country," he added.

President Donald Trump offered blunt words to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in front of reporters at the White House, warning him that he was risking a global conflict, losing the war, and demanding that he show gratitude for American support.

Zelensky came to Washington to sign a mineral exploitation agreement with the United States, a deal Trump has demanded as compensation for the American investment in Ukraine's defense.

"You're gambling with the lives of millions of people. You're gambling with World War Three, and what you're doing is very disrespectful to the country, this country that's backed you far more than a lot of people say they should have," Trump told him, according to the Times.

"Offer some words of appreciation for the United States of America and the president who's trying to save your country," he added. "Your country is in big trouble. I know you're not winning. You're not winning this."

© Saul Loeb / AFP - Getty Images

The skirmish in the Oval Office Friday began after Vance said that the path to peace between Russia and Ukraine is diplomacy.

During the meeting Zelensky and Trump began to raise their voices and argue quite loudly over the American contribution to Ukraine's war effort.

Vance attempted to intercede and requested that Zelensky work out his frustrations with the administration in private rather than on social media, though arguments persisted. Trump, for his part, indicated that he had permitted to keep the cameras rolling through the arguments because he believed it was important for Americans to see the exchange.

Trump's remarks come as Russia makes gains on the battlefield across the front and appears poised to encircle a major Ukrainian position inside the Russian Kurk Oblast.

Zelensky left the White House without signing the military deal.

Comment: How the sausage is really made:

Full text:

If you watch the full Trump-Zelensky press conference, it is very clear that Zelensky, not Trump or Vance, became the antagonist. Both POTUS and VP were very respectful and cordial until Zelensky very publicly ignited a firestorm.

It all starts at 40:30

1) Zelensky essentially rejects how VP described the mandate of POTUS to conduct foreign affairs, and he insinuates that Trump term one did nothing to stop Putin.

2) He then basically tells Vance that his ideas are faulty and that the administration's diplomacy won't work.

These two comments are *deliberately antagonistic.* Everything was all well and good, but Zelensky took two major shots in a public forum, and they had to respond. And respond they did.

Recall, this is the guy who interfered in our electoral politics and called VP "too radical," and bashed Trump in an interview with New York Mag weeks before the election.

Zelensky is ENTIRELY at fault here. 100%.

The aftermath: