World leaders have been warned that Donald Trump‘s brutal bust-up with Volodymyr Zelensky could spell the end of Nato – and the US president could halt military aid to Ukraine as early as today.
The American leader yesterday led an unprecedented humiliation of the war-time premier alongside attack dog VP JD Vance, later declaring that his counterpart was ‘not ready for peace’.
He accused Zelensky of ‘gambling with World War Three’ as they abandoned plans to sign a minerals deal which would have given further US support in exchange for access to Ukraine’s natural resources.
The Ukrainian abruptly stormed out of the White House following the war of words, later refusing to apologise and saying Trump should be ‘more on our side’. Reports this morning suggest that the President is considering ending military aid shipments to Ukraine.
This morning former foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt warned that the Nato could be at risk of losing the US if it does not feel Europe is ‘pulling its weight’.
Mr Hunt told the Today programme: ‘From Europe’s point of view there is an even bigger priority than the future of Ukraine, which is the future of Nato. And there is a simple message from what happened yesterday and that is that we can’t take that for granted.
The American leader yesterday led an unprecidented humiliation of the war-time premier alongside attack dog VP JD Vance, later declaring that his counterpart was ‘not ready for peace’
Gloating Russians have dubbed the incident a ‘public political execution’ and a ‘verbal brawl’ where ‘Zelensky was shown the door’ – as they delight while the West falls into chaos
The war-hit nation was pummeled by Moscow last night, with a crowded hospital one of several targets blown up by a kamikaze drone attack
‘The 2.5 per cent of GDP increase in defence spending this week is extremely welcome from Keir Starmer but it won’t be enough and we need all European Nato countries to be spending much closer to the 3.4 per cent of GDP that America is spending before America feels that Europe is pulling its weight.
‘And if we don’t do that, if America feels unfairly treated, we can see the fireworks and the sort of things that we’ll be putting at risk. So right now that is a very, very big priority behind the scenes – to make sure that America remains anchored in the Western alliance.’
Gloating Russians have dubbed the incident a ‘public political execution’ and a ‘verbal brawl’ where ‘Zelensky was shown the door’ as they delight while the West falls into chaos.
The war-hit nation was pummeled by Moscow last night, with a crowded hospital one of several targets blown up by a kamikaze drone attack.
This morning, the Ukrainian president spoke out again to defend his nation – saying that his people ‘need to know that they are not alone’ and that they are ‘heard and not forgotten’.
Last night Sir Keir talked with both leaders following the clash – just a day after he met with Trump to lavish praise on the US president’s efforts to secure a peace deal.
And this weekend Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky is on his way to crunch talks held by Keir Starmer in London where the Prime Minister will hope to act as a bridge between the countries.
The event will see him gather of European leaders at Downing Street as they attempt to plan for how to police a future Ukraine peace deal. Starmer believes such a deal will have to involve the US.
Mr Hunt, who passionately spoke in defence of Ukraine while shadow Chancellor last year, continued: ‘Keir Starmer could still be Prime Minister when Donald Trump leaves the White House – what he will want to know and be sure of is that Nato also survives with him. And that’s why what Europe does next is very very important.
Last night Sir Keir talked with both leaders following the clash – just a day after he met with Trump to lavish praise on the US president’s efforts to secure a peace deal. Pictured: During a joint press conference on Thursday
The Ukranian abruptly stormed out of the White House following the war of words, later refusing to apologise and saying Trump should be ‘more on our side’
‘If Europe wants a seat at the table it needs to bring something to the table. And really the only two things that we can bring in this situation are an increase in defence spending and an offer to help police a ceasefire.
‘We can get round the table – it’s been a very, very bumpy start but that’s part of this president’s negotiating style. But what we need today is cool heads, a little bit of time and then to get back to the negotiations.’
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch called for ‘respectable diplomacy’ following the meeting, and said a ‘divided West only benefits Russia’, while SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn suggested the offer to Trump of a second state visit should be revoked.
Meanwhile in Moscow, the country is delighting in Trump’s televised spectacle – with newscasters and public figures joyfully reveling in the war leader’s humiliation.
‘The insolent pig finally got a proper slap down in the Oval Office. And @realDonaldTrump is right: The Kiev regime is ‘gambling with WWIII,” wrote Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Medvedev on X.
Reporting on the Oval Office debacle, one gloated: ‘Public political execution and new edge in modern diplomacy. This is how world media report on the humiliating expulsion of Zelensky from the White House.
‘The meeting ended unexpectedly. Zelensky was thrown out of the White House. The planned dinner and press conferences did not happen. Trump meanwhile faced the media to tell who, according to him, really wants war and who wants peace.’
Aleksandr Kareyevsky, a TV host on the Rossiya 24 channel, said the meeting ‘looks more like a public flagellation for Zelensky’ and something that ‘no one expected from the U.S. president.’
Another gleefully added: ‘Historic scandal, diplomatic train wreck, horrifying spectacle, Zelensky’s fail. This is how world media describe the meeting between Donald Trump and the head of the Kyiv regime in the White House.
‘This is news story number one. Nobody has ever seen anything like it. Instead of filing the deal, they got into an enraging verbal brawl. Then Zelensky was shown to the door.’
French President Emmanuel Macron , German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen were among the leaders to express solidarity with Zelensky
Sir Keir Starmer believes a Ukrainian peace deal with Russia will have to involve the US
Last night a No 10 spokeswoman said: ‘The Prime Minister has tonight spoken to both President Trump and President Zelensky.
‘He retains unwavering support for Ukraine, and is doing all he can to find a path forward to a lasting peace based on sovereignty and security for Ukraine.
‘The Prime Minister looks forward to hosting international leaders on Sunday including President Zelensky.’
The statement from Downing Street followed a show of unity from Europe’s political leaders, supporting Ukraine.
The day before Sir Keir had led a charm offensive with Trump, securing support for the Chagos Islands deal and signs that he may be able to hold off US tariffs on British goods.
French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen were among the leaders to express solidarity with Zelensky.
Zelensky pointedly thanked dozens of allies on social media, a day after Trump and JD Vance accused him of not being sufficiently grateful.
As Friday’s White House meeting degenerated, Vance asked Zelensky: ‘Have you said “thank you” once this entire time… in this entire meeting?’ English-language Ukranian newspaper the Kyiv Independent has since uploaded a video titled: ‘Zelensky thanks America for 4 minutes straight’.
He accused Zelensky of ‘gambling with World War Three’. The Ukranian abruptly stormed out of the White House following the war of words, later refusing to apologise and saying Trump should be ‘more on our side’
The day before Sir Keir had led a charm offensive with Trump, securing support for the Chagos Islands deal and signs that he may be able to hold off US tariffs on British goods
They abandoned plans to sign a minerals deal which would have given further US support in exchange for access to Ukraine’s natural resources. Pictured: Chairs stand empty at the site of the planned agreement signing
Last night’s Russian attack triggered a fire in the medical facility and other sites and dozens of buildings were damaged. The child was injured by flying glass
The leaders are among those who will gather in London on Sunday to consider how to strengthen Ukraine’s current position, with military support and increased economic pressure on Russia.
BBC Political Editor Chris Mason said: ‘Having met and got on with President Trump on Thursday Sir Keir is attempting to act as a bridge between Washington and Kyiv and Washington and Europe. But the Western alliance is fracturing before our eyes.’
The UK wants US military assets to provide surveillance, intelligence and – potentially – warplanes providing air cover to deter Russian President Vladimir Putin from launching another bid to conquer his neighbour.
The tense war of words played out inside the Oval Office quickly went off the rails when Trump took offense of how Zelensky treated his vice president JD Vance in front of the cameras.
Zelensky, speaking to Fox News, was asked point blank if he owed Trump an apology and twice filibustered before refusing and instead attempting to be gracious and added ‘I’m not sure we did something bad.’
‘We’re thankful to Americans for all your support, you did a lot, I’m thankful to President Trump and Congress‘ bipartisan support,’ Zelensky said.
‘You helped us a lot from the very beginning, you helped us to survive. We are strategic partners.’
When asked again, he refused again and tried to explain his own position.
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky refused to apologize in his first major interview since his disaster brawl and public meltdown with Donald Trump and JD Vance
A verbal spat between Ukrainian President Zelensky and Vice President JD Vance kicked off an angry Oval Office meeting
‘We have to be honest and we have to be direct with each other. Nobody wants to finish more than we because we are in this war, in this battle for freedom for our lives,’ he said.
The Ukrainian leader said he needs Trump to be ‘on the same side’ and needs him to stop Vladimir Putin.
‘I want President Trump to be more on our side,’ he said when Baier asked if he felt it was okay for Trump to be ‘in the middle’ of negotiations.
‘Trump said he will stop the war and I hope he will. We need to pressure him with Europe.’
Zelensky then attempted to quote former President Ronald Reagan in saying what he wanted in a deal.
‘Peace is not just the absence of war. We are speaking of a just, lasting peace,’ he said.
Zelensky also said that Trump was lying when the president said that he wants to go back into the White House and have a do-over right now.
‘No. First of all, we want peace, that’s why we are in the US. The deal on minerals is the first step to security guarantees, it’s the first step closer to peace. We have a tough situation, to understand it is to be in Ukraine,’ he said.
He added: ‘But I respect my soldiers and our people, our civilians who work and support our warriors. I can’t just say stop because everyone is afraid that Putin will come back tomorrow.’
Zelensky added that he respects Trump and the American people but reiterated that he felt he was being honest.
‘I think this kind of spat is not good for both sides. I can’t change our Ukranian attitude to Russia. They are killers for us. This is very clear that Americans are the best friends, Europeans are the best friends. It doesn’t mean that we don’t want peace, we recognize the reality of the situation.’
Zelensky, speaking to Fox News, was asked point blank by Bret Baier if he owed Trump an apology and twice filibustered before refusing and instead attempting to be gracious and added ‘I’m not sure we did something bad’
He also said that his country wants peace and diplomacy and said they are willing to negotiate, going against what Trump said that he wants to ‘fight fight fight.’
‘Ukraine wants peace and we will have diplomacy, we will have negotiations. It’s about just and lasting peace, we have to be very strong at the table of negotiations,’ he said.
Baier asked him lastly if his relationship with Trump was repairable after this mess.
‘Yes, of course, because it’s relations more than two presidents. It’s strong relations between our people and that’s why I always thank your people from our people.’
White House officials told DailyMail.com the stunning confrontation was not any kind of premeditated tag-team operation designed to humiliate the supplicant Zelensky to try to buckle his hard-line negotiating stance or somehow gain advantage in a scuttled rare earth minerals deal.
Trump had been pleasant with Zelensky to start their interactions – although Trump’s first comment, caught on a hot-mic, was a glib remark about his informal clothing.
Zelensky has underdressed as a statement since Russia‘s 2022 invasion of his country, while other wartime leaders – including Winston Churchill – have also avoided donning suits while visiting the property.
‘Zelensky should not have gone after JD,’ said a senior White House official in the minutes after the stunning confrontation played out on television. The official said Zelensky’s digs prompted Trump, 78, to defend his 40-year-old Number Two – and the situation quickly escalated.
The clash with the VP that kicked off the angry back-and-forth came in a meeting where Zelensky was on Trump’s turf in an effort to try to gain security guarantees in a rare earth minerals deal that Trump says will provide a form of protection by putting U.S. business interests inside his country.
Sources said the clash was unplanned, and that Zelensky should not have tangled with the VP inside the Oval Office
The White House was looking for appreciation. Instead, some of Zelensky’s gestures got interpreted as if he couldn’t tolerate what he was hearing.
‘This was not planned at all,’ said one source familiar with the situation, denying it was any kind of premeditated ambush.
As hot as things got inside the Oval Office, there were indications President Trump was relishing the blowup after it unfolded.
‘This is going to be great television, I will say that,’ Trump remarked at the end.
Trump called on a U.S.-based Polish reporter who pressed him on the U.S. posture toward Russia. Trump called the question ‘stupid’. But then later on in an exchange that lasted 50 minutes, Trump called on the same reporter – whose queries prompted Vance to say Ukraine had been ungrateful for billions in U.S. support.
Vance blamed previous Democratic U.S. administrations for failing to stop Russia, but Zelensky tried to shift the conversation back to Putin. ‘He killed people,’ he said.
‘What kind of diplomacy, JD, are you speaking about,’ the Ukrainian asked, referring to Vance by his first name rather than his formal title.
The remark set off Vance – who lectured Zelensky, and then got told off by the visitor for failing to visit Ukraine as a senator, even while many others made the pilgrimage.
As hot as things got inside the Oval Office, there were indications President Trump was relishing the blowup after it unfolded
‘I’m talking about the kind of diplomacy that’s going to end the destruction of your country, Mr President [Zelensky]. Mr. President, with respect. I think it’s disrespectful for you to come to the Oval Office to try to litigate this in front of the American media,’ said Vance.
‘Have you ever been to Ukraine that you see the problems we have?’ Zelensky asked Vance, who last April in the Senate voted against a package with $61 billion in aid for Ukraine.
‘I have been to – I’ve actually, I’ve actually watched and seen the stories, and I know what happens is you bring people. You bring them on a propaganda tour, Mr President,’ Vance shot back.
Then Trump jumped in to defend his vice president. ‘You’ve allowed to be in a very bad position, and it happens to be right about that. YOu’re not in a good position. You don’t have the cards right now.’
‘I’m not playing cards,’ Zelensky responded, speaking over him.
‘Have you said thank you once?’ Vance blasted Zelensky at one point in the conflagration.
‘Just say thank you,’ Vance told him. ‘I said it a lot of times,’ Zelensky responded.
Zelensky’s first words had been: ‘Thank you so much, Mr President, thank you for the invitation’ – although Vance appeared to be seeking gratitude for the massive infusion of military aid.
A Russian strike on a medical facility triggered a fire late on Friday in Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city and also hit several other targets, Mayor Ihor Terekhov said. One child was injured in the attack on the hospital
Regional governor Oleh Syniehubov said all the strikes were in central districts of the city and emergency crews were working at the different sites
Vance has previous history with controversial comments on the war-torn nation. ‘I gotta be honest with you, I don’t really care what happens to Ukraine one way or another,’ he said back in 2022, even as members of both parties were rallying around the country.
And when Vance spoke at the Munich Security Conference this month, he elevated free speech issues over the Russia threat.
‘The threat that I worry the most about vis-à-vis Europe is not Russia. It’s not China. It’s not any other external actor,’ Vance said at the time.
‘What I worry about is the threat from within — the retreat of Europe from some of its most fundamental values, values shared with the United States of America.’
A Ukrainian hospital has been hit by a Russian kamikaze drone strike just hours after Zelensky was banished from the White House last night.
A Russian strike on a medical facility triggered a fire late on Friday in Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city and also hit several other targets, Mayor Ihor Terekhov said. One child was injured in the attack on the hospital.
He said drones also hit an area near a filling station and a building close to a high-rise apartment building.
Regional governor Oleh Syniehubov said all the strikes were in central districts of the city and emergency crews were working at the different sites.
Shocking videos have captured the moment the drone struck the hospital, a huge crash can be heard in the distance.
Oleh Syniehubov, writing on the Telegram messaging app, said eight Russian drones had hit civilian areas in three central districts of the city, a frequent target of Russian attacks in the three-year-old war.
The attack triggered a fire in the medical facility and other sites and dozens of buildings were damaged. The child was injured by flying glass.
In the Black Sea port of Odesa, another frequent Russian target in southern Ukraine, a drone attack triggered fires in a private home and a business, killing one person and injuring
