A dramatic confrontation between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy has erupted into the spotlight following a fiery and reportedly expletive-laden meeting at the White House.
The sit-down, held on Friday (17 October), was meant to foster progress toward ending the ongoing war in Ukraine—but quickly descended into chaos.
According to reports from the Financial Times, the meeting turned into a shouting match when Trump urged Zelenskyy to concede to Vladimir Putin’s sweeping demands, including the surrender of the entire Donbas region. Zelenskyy, standing firm, refused.
Trump to Zelenskyy: “Putin will destroy you”
As tensions rose, Trump allegedly became visibly frustrated, tossing aside maps and declaring: “This red line, I don’t even know where this is. I’ve never been there," per the Financial Times.
He then warned: “Putin will destroy you” if Ukraine didn’t accept the proposed peace terms.
Zelenskyy pushed back, saying: “Putin doesn’t want peace, that’s why we need pressure on him.”
The heated exchange unfolded in full view of the press, with tempers flaring even further behind closed doors.
Trump: “You have to be thankful... you’re buried there”
As reported by the Daily Mail, a hot mic previously captured additional moments from the encounter.
Trump reportedly criticized Zelenskyy over a lack of gratitude for past U.S. aid and took a hard stance on future support.
“You have to be thankful. You don’t have the cards. You’re buried there. Your people are dying. You’re running low on soldiers,” Trump told the Ukrainian president.
He then delivered an ultimatum: “You're either gonna make a deal or we're out. And if we're out, you'll fight it out.”
“Let both claim Victory”: Trump calls for peace—but halts U.S. military aid
Following the confrontational meeting, Trump took to Truth Social to publicly air his stance:
“Enough blood has been shed, with property lines being defined by War and Guts. They should stop where they are. Let both claim Victory, let History decide!”
He later added: “I don’t want advantage, I want peace. He disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office. He can come back when he is ready for Peace.”
In the immediate aftermath, the Trump administration announced a complete freeze on military aid to Ukraine, halting shipments of advanced weaponry that had not yet arrived in the country.
A White House official confirmed the move: “The president has been clear that he is focused on peace. We need our partners to be committed to that goal as well. We are pausing and reviewing our aid to ensure that it is contributing to a solution.”