Trump to Zelenskyy: ‘Come Back When You’re Ready for Peace’ After Fiery Exchange

A tense and fiery exchange unfolded at the White House on Friday as U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy clashed over the ongoing war in Ukraine. The meeting, which was expected to address U.S. support for Ukraine, quickly turned into a confrontation, with Trump accusing Zelenskyy of "gambling with World War Three" and urging him to be "thankful" for American assistance.

The verbal sparring follows a week of escalating rhetoric between the two leaders. Zelenskyy recently stated that Trump was "living in a disinformation space" influenced by Russian narratives, while Trump, in turn, labeled the Ukrainian president a "dictator."

Following their heated discussion, Trump issued a statement on his social media platform, describing the encounter as “very meaningful” but also suggesting that Zelenskyy was not ready for peace.

"Much was learned that could never be understood without conversation under such fire and pressure," Trump wrote. "It’s amazing what comes out through emotion, and I have determined that President Zelenskyy is not ready for peace if America is involved, because he feels our involvement gives him a big advantage in negotiations. I don’t want advantage, I want PEACE."

The president also accused Zelenskyy of disrespecting the United States in the Oval Office, concluding, "He can come back when he is ready for Peace."

The explosive meeting adds further uncertainty to the future of U.S.-Ukraine relations, especially as global tensions surrounding the war continue to rise.