'You're gambling with World War 3': Trump and Zelensky clash in Oval Office

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s high-profile visit to the White House took an unexpected turn when the scheduled signing of a minerals deal led to a heated argument with President Donald Trump and Vice President Vance. Initially, the focus was on strengthening the economic ties between the U.S. and Ukraine, but the meeting quickly became dominated by a sharp exchange of words over U.S. policy on Ukraine and the ongoing war with Russia.

The official highlight of the visit—the signing of the minerals deal—was overshadowed by a heated back-and-forth between Zelensky and the U.S. leadership. The deal was meant to establish economic cooperation between Ukraine and the U.S., with an emphasis on joint ventures in military and technological advancements. However, the conversation took a tense turn when Vice President Vance criticized Zelensky for trying to influence U.S. policy in front of the media, resulting in a strongly worded rebuttal from the Ukrainian president.

Zelensky defends Ukraine’s struggles

During the heated exchange, Zelensky responded to Vance’s remarks by pointing out that every country at war faces challenges, and even the U.S. could experience similar difficulties in the future. In retaliation, Trump interjected, accusing Zelensky of "gambling with World War III" and undermining the U.S.'s backing of Ukraine. Trump stressed that the Ukranian president’s approach was disrespectful to the U.S. and criticized his stance on the ongoing conflict.

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Minerals deal: U.S. focus on economic and military partnership

Despite the tense arguments, Trump maintained that the minerals deal, which focuses on cooperation between the U.S. and Ukraine, was a “fair” agreement that would benefit both nations. Trump acknowledged the bravery of Ukrainian soldiers and the resilience of Zelensky but urged for the war to come to an end.

The deal involves the U.S. utilizing Ukrainian minerals for military purposes, including AI and weaponry. This partnership aims to establish further economic collaboration, with the next steps being more detailed negotiations between the two countries.

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Zelensky and Trump's different views on the war in Ukraine

Throughout the meeting, Zelensky emphasized that Russia, which initiated the war, must stop and withdraw from Ukrainian territory. Despite the tension in the room, he remained steadfast in his position, expressing his gratitude for U.S. support.

Meanwhile, Trump, who had earlier criticized Zelensky as an "unpopular dictator," softened his tone, but the encounter still underscored the growing divide on how to approach the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.