‘Thank you America, Ukraine needs lasting peace,’ Zelensky speaks after ‘explosive meeting’ with Trump

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed appreciation to the United States after a contentious meeting with President Donald Trump.

The rift between Zelensky and Trump widened on Friday after a meeting between both leaders aimed at discussing efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war ended in a shouting match.

Castigating Zelensky for not demonstrating enough gratitude for American support, Trump and Vice-President JD Vance raised their voices, accusing the besieged leader of standing in the way of a peace agreement with Russia.

“You’re right now, not really in a very good position. You’ve allowed yourself to be in a very bad position,” Trump told his Ukrainian counterpart.

“You don’t have the cards right now. With us, you start having cards.”

“I’m not playing cards,” Zelensky returned.

A White House official said Zelensky was ordered to leave the White House abruptly.

“Thank you, America, thank you for your support, thank you for this visit. Thank you @POTUS, Congress, and the American people. Ukraine needs just and lasting peace, and we are working exactly for that,” Zelensky later posted on X.

Trump later cancelled a planned news conference with Zelensky after the contentious meeting in the White House.

Zelensky spoke with several European leaders afterward to shore up alliances.