World Leaders, US Lawmakers React to Trump–Zelensky Clash

The heated exchange between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has prompted mixed reactions from world leaders and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.

Friday’s high-profile meeting at the Oval Office grew tense as Vice President JD Vance, Trump, and Zelenskyy discussed the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine and a proposed agreement allowing the U.S. greater access to Ukraine’s rare earth minerals as a way for the war-torn country to compensate for and continue receiving aid from the United States.

Zelenskyy was expected to sign the deal and was also scheduled to hold a joint news conference. Both were eventually called off.

After nearly 40 minutes of dialogue, Trump urged Zelenskyy to “make a deal or we’re out” during a heated exchange about U.S. support and accused Zelenskyy of being disrespectful and lacking gratitude to the United States. Zelenskyy had urged the United States to provide security guarantees as a part of the deal, which the Trump administration rejected.

Reactions from around the globe quickly poured in regarding the blowup between the two leaders.

Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council and the former president and prime minister of Russia, criticized Zelenskyy on social media platform X, adding that “Trump is right: The Kyiv regime is ‘gambling with WWIII.’”

French President Emmanuel Macron reiterated that Russia initiated the conflict and vowed to stand by Ukraine.

“There is an aggressor: Russia. There is a people under attack: Ukraine,” Macron wrote in a statement on X. “We were all right to help Ukraine and sanction Russia three years ago and to continue to do so. We are Americans, Europeans, Canadians, Japanese and many others. Thanks to all those who helped and continue. And respect to those who, since the beginning, have been fighting. Because they are fighting for their dignity, their independence, for their children and for the security of Europe.”

Irish Foreign Minister Simon Harris said that Ukraine isn’t to blame, rather Russia is responsible for its “illegal invasion.”

German foreign minister Annalena Baerbock echoed the remarks, sharing on X that Ukraine does not stand alone.
“Germany together with our European allies stands united alongside #Ukraine - and against the Russian aggression. Ukraine can build on unwavering support from Germany, Europe and beyond. Their defence of democracy & their quest for peace & security is ours,” Baerbock wrote.

Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof, and Portuguese President Luis Montenegro all expressed support for Ukraine in their own statements on X.

Back in the United States, lawmakers shared their reactions to the Oval Office meeting.

Democrats for the most part criticized the exchange.

Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) accused Trump and Vance of “doing Putin’s dirty work.”

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) wrote on X that “Our leaders are acting like ventriloquist dummies for Putin.”

Former Democrat vice presidential nominee and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz accused Trump of “embarrassing the United States on the world stage,” adding that the United States is a country that “stands up to dictators and fights for democracy.”

Meanwhile, Republicans praised Trump for putting U.S. interests first.

During a press conference following the meeting, Sen. Lindsay Graham (R-S.C.) said that he was asked if he was embarrassed by the president. Graham said he has “never been more proud” of Trump and Vance for standing up for America. He also accused Zelenskyy of being disrespectful during the exchange.

Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) cited the U.S. budget deficit, saying on X: “We want peace, we will not continue to waste taxpayer dollars and we will not put our troops at risk. We are putting the American people first again.”

Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas) appeared to reiterate Trump’s stance during the White House meeting. Trump told Zelenskyy that Ukraine had “no cards” to play in the conflict without U.S. support.

“If you are the leader of a country in a dire situation with no path to peace without American support, do not come into the Oval Office and argue with the President of the United States in public. Just a word of advice,” Crenshaw wrote on X.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) commented that America will not be taken advantage of.

“The death and destruction of the Russian-provoked war needs to stop immediately, and only our American President can put these two countries on a path to lasting peace,” he wrote on X. “President Zelenskyy needed to acknowledge that, and accept the extraordinary mineral rights partnership proposal that President Trump put on the table.”

It is unclear what Friday’s meeting could mean for the proposed minerals agreement, a deal that Trump has said was essential in repaying the United States for more than $180 billion in aid provided to Kyiv since the start of the war.