The two presidents ended up in a long and heated argument in front of the TV cameras when they were about to greet each other before Friday's planned meeting.
You're gambling with millions of lives. You're gambling with a third world war, and what you're doing is very disrespectful to our country, said Trump, pointing harshly and angrily at Zelensky.
The meeting, which was supposed to last about two hours, never even got started, reports CNN. Trump withdrew and sent his Secretary of State Marco Rubio and security adviser Mike Waltz to more or less throw out the Ukrainian delegation, according to the TV channel.
"Thanks for this visit"
On his platform Truth Social, Trump calls the meeting "fruitful" and writes:
"It's incredible what can come out through emotions, and I've realized that President Zelensky is not ready for peace if the US is involved, because he feels that our involvement gives him a great advantage in the negotiations. I don't want to give advantages, I want PEACE", writes Trump and continues:
"He was disrespectful to the US in this beloved Oval Office. He can come back when he's ready for peace".
Zelensky responded shortly after on X:
"Thanks USA, thanks for your support, thanks for this visit. Thanks President, Congress, and the American people. Ukraine needs a fair and lasting peace, and that's exactly what we're working for."
Argument in front of an open curtain
A rarely seen argument at the highest international level took place in the White House on Friday.
The gathered journalist corps could only watch as Trump, Zelensky, and even US Vice President JD Vance used increasingly harsh words against each other.
Sign an agreement, otherwise we'll pull out, said a visibly irritated Trump to his Ukrainian guest.
Zelensky tried to explain Ukraine's situation relatively calmly – but clearly upset – and that high tones so far have not helped and will not do so now either.
You should be grateful! replied Trump.
It's going to be very difficult to get anything done this way. It's going to be hard to get an agreement because the attitudes need to change.
Trump had just minutes earlier said that he was not on Ukraine's side, but "for both Ukraine and Russia".
I'm not allied with anyone. I'm allied with the USA and what's best for the world.
Promised weapons
Trump promised despite everything to send more weapons to Ukraine, but "hopefully not too much, because an agreement is near".
How this will turn out is unclear. It also applies to the agreement that Friday's meeting was supposed to be about – an agreement that was not signed before Zelensky left the White House.
The agreement is supposed to ensure American support for a "stable" Ukraine and the country's economic development. In return, Ukraine is to contribute half of all future revenues from newly discovered natural resources to a joint fund.
