Ismail Abdulazeez Mantu Reporting
A high-stakes meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy at the White House took a tense turn on Friday as the two leaders clashed over Russia’s role in Ukraine’s ongoing war.
During an Oval Office discussion ahead of a planned agreement on U.S. investment in Ukraine’s mineral industry, Zelenskiy challenged Trump’s softer stance on Russian President Vladimir Putin, urging caution in dealing with Moscow. Trump, in turn, accused the Ukrainian leader of being “disrespectful” and downplayed the devastation of Ukrainian cities, asserting that Putin was open to negotiating peace.
Tensions escalated when Zelenskiy firmly rejected Trump’s assertion that Ukraine’s urban centers had been “reduced to rubble” by three years of conflict. “Ukraine is still standing, our cities are not just rubble,” Zelenskiy countered, emphasizing the resilience of his people.
Trump, however, reiterated his belief that a deal with Putin was possible. “Putin wants to make a deal. I think we can get something done,” he stated, underscoring his preference for diplomatic engagement with Russia.