Zelenskyy and Trump in Oval Office arguement

In February 2025, an Oval Office meeting between Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy allegedly turned into a verbal brawl behind closed doors. What was supposed to be a routine diplomatic talk reportedly derailed when Trump, flanked by Vice President JD Vance, accused Zelenskyy of being “disrespectful” and not showing enough gratitude for U.S. military aid. Sources claim Trump slammed his hand on the table and warned Zelenskyy he was “gambling with World War III,” prompting the Ukrainian leader to cut the meeting short and cancel the rest of his D.C. schedule.

Allegedly, the confrontation also led to a freeze on proposed U.S.-Ukraine initiatives, including a joint postwar reconstruction fund. While the White House downplayed the clash, Zelenskyy’s firm posture played well back home, where many Ukrainians rallied behind him as a symbol of national pride.