Kathmandu, March 1: US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met in the White House Oval Office, but talks on a peace plan quickly turned into a heated exchange. According to reports, both leaders blamed each other, and the atmosphere grew so tense that Trump asked Zelensky to leave until an agreement was ready. As a result, a proposed mineral deal between Ukraine and the United States was not signed, leaving Ukraine without the anticipated agreement.

Trump claimed that US financial support and military aid had prolonged the war and warned that Zelensky’s actions could risk millions of lives, even suggesting they might lead to World War III. Meanwhile, Zelensky, speaking later to Fox News, defended his stance by stressing that Ukraine would not agree to any deal without solid security guarantees, especially given past broken promises by Moscow. He also expressed regret that the entire episode was broadcast on television, and noted that if the US were to withdraw support, protecting Ukraine from further aggression would become very difficult.

The meeting, which also included discussions with Vice President JD Vance, lasted about 45 minutes with the final ten minutes marked by a heated debate. During the talks, Vice President Bhansley remarked that it was insulting to try this case in front of the US media, prompting Trump to accuse Zelensky of playing with the lives of millions. Despite earlier promises that the US would continue to provide military aid, the clash ended without any concrete agreements, including the long-discussed mineral deal.

Zelensky later took to social media to thank Trump for his support, emphasizing that Ukraine still needs a just and lasting peace. However, the unresolved issues and mounting pressure from the US administration suggest that further discussions will be needed before any progress is made.