Following the heated clash between President Donald Trump and President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House, Ukraine now faces the risk of losing U.S. support entirely, putting Kyiv under even greater pressure from Russia.
What was expected to be a strategic meeting to finalize a U.S.-Ukraine mineral deal and discuss peace negotiations spiraled into a tense confrontation on February 28, exposing deep divisions between Washington and Kyiv.
During their Oval Office meeting, Trump urged Zelensky to "compromise" with Russia in ceasefire talks. Zelensky rejected the suggestion outright, insisting that Ukraine would not concede territory. The exchange quickly escalated, with both leaders raising their voices. Trump and Vice President JD Vance accused Zelensky of being "ungrateful" and disrespecting the U.S., while Zelensky fired back, saying the Trump administration was being too soft on Moscow.
The meeting ended with Zelensky leaving the White House earlier than planned. The press conference was canceled, and the mineral deal went unsigned.
The Fallout: A Growing Rift Between Ukraine and the U.S.
Speaking to reporters afterward, Trump blamed Zelensky for missing a critical opportunity to end the war.
"I want a ceasefire now. But he just wants to keep fighting, fighting, fighting," Trump said.
The collapse of the meeting has raised serious questions about the future of U.S.-Ukraine relations and whether Washington will continue playing a central role in peace negotiations.
Some experts argue that Europe must now step up and take decisive action, while others believe Zelensky must contain the damage—or even step down—to ensure continued U.S. support.
"It’s hard to predict what happens next," a senior European official told CNN. "The optics from that meeting were terrible. This is another signal that Europe must act—use Russian frozen assets, buy weapons for Ukraine, increase defense spending this year, and move forward with EU membership approval. There’s still a lot we can do to help Ukraine build leverage in negotiations."
Growing Pressure on Zelensky
Trump indicated that he does not believe Zelensky is ready for peace negotiations. Meanwhile, some Republicans who previously supported Kyiv are now losing patience with the Ukrainian leader.
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, once an outspoken advocate for Ukraine, suggested that Kyiv may need new leadership to work with Trump.
"This is a question for me and for the Ukrainian people," Graham said. "I don’t know if President Zelensky can get you where you want to be with America. Either he must change significantly, or you must find someone new."
Joel Rubin, a former deputy assistant secretary of state, urged European leaders to hold an emergency meeting to discuss the situation.
"Something must be done to calm tensions between Zelensky and the U.S.," he warned.
Former Republican Congressman Mike Garcia said the Oval Office dispute could be a disaster for either Zelensky or Ukraine itself.
"Zelensky doesn’t seem to understand that he won’t get everything he wants," Garcia said.
A senior Western diplomat revealed that U.S. and European officials had worked behind the scenes for weeks to avoid this exact scenario, knowing that Trump is deeply skeptical of Zelensky.
"I don’t understand how Zelensky let himself walk into this trap," the diplomat said. "His survival depends on Trump’s goodwill. If Trump wants to throw a pie in his face, let him."
Could Trump and Putin Strike a Deal Without Ukraine?
Some Russia experts are worried that the White House dispute could pave the way for a Moscow-Washington deal at Ukraine’s expense.
Eric Ciaramella, a Russia and Eurasia specialist at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said that if Zelensky wants to salvage the situation, he must quickly delegate peace talks to a respected envoy in Washington.
"Zelensky cannot fix this alone," Ciaramella said. "He needs someone outside his inner circle to try to get things back on track."
The fallout from the White House meeting has put Ukraine in a vulnerable position, with Trump signaling he is willing to scale back U.S. support for Kyiv. Zelensky left Washington with little more than a strained relationship with the most powerful man in the U.S.
Critics of Trump argue that his treatment of Zelensky is the clearest evidence yet that he sympathizes with Putin and Russia’s territorial ambitions.
"I fear the scenario of Moscow and Washington striking a deal behind Kyiv’s back is becoming increasingly real," Ciaramella warned.
The Stakes for Ukraine: Losing U.S. Support?
If Zelensky fails to offer enough concessions to Trump, Ukraine may no longer be able to rely on U.S. security guarantees.
ABC News analyst Carrington Clarke noted that Zelensky now has little choice but to turn to Europe for support.
"After being effectively kicked out of the White House, Zelensky can only hope for a warmer welcome in Europe," Clarke wrote. "The future of his country depends on it."
Some European leaders have publicly reaffirmed their support for Ukraine in the wake of the dispute.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk wrote on X:
"To President Zelensky and our Ukrainian friends—you are not alone."
French President Emmanuel Macron emphasized that Russia is the aggressor in the war, reaffirming that Europe, Japan, Canada, and the U.S. had been right to support Ukraine and impose sanctions on Moscow.
Moldovan President Maia Sandu, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, and Czech President Petr Pavel also pledged to stand by Ukraine.
However, Dr. Samuel Ramani of the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) warned that the widening rift between the U.S. and Europe could spell disaster for Ukraine.
If tensions between Kyiv and Washington are not resolved soon, U.S. military aid to Ukraine could be cut off entirely.
Earlier this month, U.S. weapons shipments to Ukraine—previously authorized under President Biden—were temporarily halted, sparking panic in Kyiv and across Europe.
Ukraine still has enough weapons to continue fighting through the summer, but if U.S. support dries up, Kyiv may be forced to abandon its positions in Russia’s Kursk region to focus on defending its own territory, weakening its leverage in future negotiations, Ramani warned.
Can Europe Fill the Void?
"Now is the time to seriously consider what Europe can do," said Rachel Rizzo, an expert at the Atlantic Council’s Europe Center.
"Can they step up in a meaningful way? Provide Ukraine with long-term security guarantees? Are they willing to send troops to enforce peace if needed? Or will Brussels' bureaucracy and divisions among EU members destroy their ability to lead?" Rizzo asked.
Zelensky: “I Will Not Apologize”
Despite the heated clash, Zelensky refused to back down in an exclusive interview with Fox News.
"I believe we must be open and honest. I do not think we did anything wrong," he said.
When asked if he owed Trump an apology, he replied simply: "No."
Is a Path to Reconciliation Still Possible?
Former senior U.S. congressional adviser Leslie Shedd argued that Zelensky’s refusal to apologize was a mistake, making reconciliation with Trump far more difficult.
She suggested that Ukraine should try to revive the mineral deal, as it would keep the U.S. engaged and motivated to support Kyiv.
"The U.S. cannot access these minerals unless Ukraine survives the war and avoids another Russian invasion. That fact alone should be enough to bring Trump back to the table," Shedd said.
(Sources: CNN, Washington Post, Fox News, ABC News)
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