Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskys Oval Office meeting descended into chaos on Friday, 28 February, as Ukraine’s president was due to sign a critical minerals deal in an effort to regain US backing against Russia’s invasion.
The meeting comes after the US president falsely accused Mr Zelensky of being a dictator in a Truth Social rant, and then later denied ever using the term to describe him.
“Did I say that? I can't believe I said that”, the US president told reporters on Thursday during a meeting with Sir Keir Starmer, adding: “We have a lot of respect, I have a lot of respect for him.”
Mr Trump also said he trusted Russian president Vladimir Putin to keep his word on a peace deal struck with Ukraine and suggested the minerals deal alone could deter future Russian aggression.
In the Oval Office, Mr Trump and JD Vance shouted over Mr Zelensky as the Mr Trump accused Kyiv of “gambling with World War Three”.
