Volodymyr Zelenskyy Cancels D.C. Appearances After He's Called 'Disrespectful'by Trump, Expresses Gratitude to Americans

Mar. 15, 2025

President Donald Trump and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a tense meeting on Feb. 28, 2025.Photo:SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty

SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty

Ukrainian PresidentVolodymyr Zelenskyycanceled his planned appearances in Washington, D.C., on Friday, Feb. 28, after a heated Oval Office meeting with PresidentDonald Trumpand Vice PresidentJ.D. Vancestalled peace talks surrounding the Russia-Ukraine war.

A White House reporter for Reutersshared the breaking newson X on Friday afternoon, posting, “@ZelenskyyUa has canceled his public events around DC where he was set to speak and take questions.”

The cleared schedule came after Trump ended their White House negotiations prematurely and canceled a planned joint press conference with Zelenskyy, which was expected to happen after their closed-door meeting.

After Zelenskyy left the White House, Trump commented on the debacleon Truth Social, accusing the Ukrainian leader of disrespecting him — a line both Trump and Vance used earlier in the day — and claiming he is “not ready for peace if America is involved.”

Zelenskyy, meanwhile, shared a simple message of gratitude following the meeting.

“Thank you America, thank you for your support, thank you for this visit. Thank you @POTUS, Congress, and the American people,” he wrote on X. “Ukraine needs just and lasting peace, and we are working exactly for that.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky after a tense meeting with President Donald Trump on Feb. 28, 2025.Chip Somodevilla/Getty

Chip Somodevilla/Getty

Friday’s Oval Office meeting was intended to be an opportunity for Zelenskyy to meet with the Trump administration at a critical time for Ukraine’s sovereignty. The plan was to sign a natural resources agreement and make progress on negotiating a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia.

Russia invaded Ukraine three years ago, in February 2022.

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However, the visit quickly turned into a confrontation between the two factions. Trump suggested that Zelenskyy may be responsible for triggering a third world war, and Vance accused the Ukrainian president of being “disrespectful” for talking policy in front of American journalists.

“Right now, you guys are going around and forcing conscripts to the front lines because you have manpower problems,” Vance told Zelenskyy during the tense conversation. “You should be thanking the president for trying to bring an end to this conflict.”

Zelenskyy then called out the fact that Vance has never been in combat or even been to Ukraine.

“We’re trying to solve a problem,” Trump fired back, “Don’t tell us what we’re going to feel, because you’re in no position to dictate that.”

“You’re not in a good position. You don’t have the cards right now. With us, you start having cards,” Trump added.

Zelenskyy replied, “I’m not playing cards. I’m very serious, Mr. President. I’m very serious.”

“You’re playing cards,” Trump responded. “You’re gambling with the lives of millions of people. You’re gambling with World War III.”

Volodymyr Zelenskyy meets with Donald Trump and J.D. Vance on Feb. 28.Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA/Bloomberg via Getty

Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA/Bloomberg via Getty

Meanwhile, European leaders spoke out to express their support for Ukraine and its wartime leader.

“Your dignity honors the bravery of the Ukrainian people. Be strong, be brave, be fearless. You are never alone, dear President Zelenskyy,” Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, and António Costa, president of the European Council, said in a statement. “We will continue working with you for a just and lasting peace.”

Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre went a step further, directly criticizing Trump’s “disheartening” behavior.

“That Trump accuses Zelenskyy of gambling with World War III is deeply unreasonable and a statement I distance myself from,” he added in a statement onFacebook.

source: people.com