01 March 2025 , 09:53
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Negotiations for a deal to end the Russia-Ukraine war turned into a shouting match between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky, and world leaders have responded with varying degrees of shock.
The US and Ukrainian presidents argued in the Oval Office on Friday afternoon as Trump threatened his counterpart to make a deal or see the US pull out.
As Zelensky pressed for a security guarantee from the US, Trump and his vice president cast him as ungrateful and he was asked to leave the White House. A rare minerals deal that would entail Ukraine providing natural resources to guarantee the US’s continued support was not signed.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán praised Trump and framed Zelensky as standing in the way of reaching peace.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán praised President Donald Trump’s actions (Picture: X/@PM_ViktorOrban)
‘Strong men make peace, weak men make war,’ wrote Orbán on X (formerly Twitter).
‘Today President Donald Trump stood bravely for peace. Even if it was difficult for many to digest. Thank you, Mr. President!’
Former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson took a more neutral position.
‘It’s time for cool heads and to remember that the US and Ukraine are on the same side,’ wrote Boris on X (formerly Twitter).
Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson on X called for the minerals deal to be signed as soon as possible (Picture: X/@BorisJohnson)
Boris added that Zelensky ‘heroically’ led his country against Russia’s ‘completely unprovoked aggression’ and that a minerals deal that was on the table should be signed as quickly as possible.
‘There is still a path to peace,’ he said.
European Union Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told Zelensky ‘your dignity honours the bravery of the Ukrainian people’.
‘Be strong, be brave, be fearless,’ she said. ‘You are never alone, dear President.’
European Union Commission President Ursula von der Leyen urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to be ‘fearless’ (Picture: X/@vonderleyen)
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said the country stands with Ukraine.
‘You are not only fighting for your freedom but also for all of Europe’s,’ wrote Kristersson on X. ‘Slava Ukraini!’
Ukraine’s regional officials also backed their president.
‘Our leader, despite the pressure, stands firm in defending the interests of Ukraine and Ukrainians,’ said Oleh Syniehubov, who is the head of the Kharkiv region at the border with Russia.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said on X that the country stands with Ukraine (Picture: X/@SwedishPM)
Italy’s Premier Giorgia Meloni suggested ‘an immediate summit’ for the US and European allies and called for the West to maintain unity,
The summit would be for allies ‘to speak frankly about how we intend to face today’s great challenges, starting with Ukraine’, said Meloni.
‘Every division of the West makes us all weaker and favours those who would like to see the decline of our civilisation,’ she said.
Trump in a Truth Social post after asking Zelensky to leave the White House said the Ukrainian president was ‘not ready for Peace if America is involved’ and that ‘he can come back when he is ready for Peace’.
Zelensky responded by thanking Trump and the US on X.
Tensions appeared to reach a fever pitch with the fiery meeting as a senior Trump administration official reportedly said they are considering ending ongoing military aid shipments to Ukraine after Zelensky’s remarks in the Oval Office.