During a tense closed-door meeting at the White House, President Trump strongly criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, cautioning him that Vladimir Putin could “destroy” Ukraine if he chose to, reports indicate.
This three-hour discussion, which followed Trump’s phone call with Putin, reportedly turned into a “screaming match,” with Trump using profanity throughout. According to sources, Trump dismissed a map of the front lines in Ukraine, suggesting that Zelensky would ultimately surrender the Donbass region to Russia.
A European official familiar with the meeting remarked that Trump’s comments mirrored several of Putin’s positions. Trump allegedly claimed that Putin described the ongoing conflict as merely a “special operation,” implying it wasn’t a true war.
At one point, Trump told Zelensky, “if that’s what you want, he will destroy you,” and tossed aside a battlefield map. Officials later noted that Trump expressed fatigue over reviewing these maps, reportedly saying, “I don’t even know where this red line is. I’ve never been there.”
One official described Zelensky as “very negative” following the exchange. While European leaders were not overly optimistic, they maintained a realistic outlook on future steps.
The White House had not responded to requests for comments by the time of publication. Zelensky’s main goal in the talks was to secure powerful Tomahawk missiles capable of striking Russia from Ukraine.
Subsequently, Trump called for an end to the nearly four-year war, suggesting a ceasefire on current terms. He urged both sides to “claim victory” and called for no more violence or excessive spending on the conflict.
Zelensky affirmed Ukraine’s readiness for peace but noted that the war’s initiation did not stem from his country. He left the meeting without a concrete agreement but expressed relief that Trump did not outright reject the idea of acquiring long-range missiles.
Zelensky mentioned, “I’m glad again that he didn’t say no,” emphasizing the strategic importance of Tomahawks and the concern they pose for Putin. Additionally, he revealed Ukraine’s proposal to trade its drone technology for U.S. weapons. Trump acknowledged that discussions regarding such an exchange were indeed ongoing, noting Ukraine’s proficiency in drone manufacturing.
