Ukraine’s ambassador had a very relatable reaction to Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy locking horns in the Oval Office earlier today.

As the world leaders discussed the contentious topic of remedying Russia‘s invasion of Ukraine alongside Vice President JD Vance, tempers began to flare.

Telling Zelenskyy he should be ‘thankful’ for the US stepping in to try and smooth things over, Trump then launched into a scathing rant. Take a look at this:

Warning the Ukrainian leader, 47, that he was ‘gambling with World War III‘, the US President said: “Your country is in big trouble. You’re not winning this. You have a damn good chance of coming out okay because of us.

“If you didn’t have our military equipment, this war would have been over in two weeks,” Trump said, before he then told the room it would be ‘very hard to do business like this’.

As Vance also chimed in to tell Zelenskyy he was ‘wrong’, Trump then said: “You don’t have the cards right now. You’re buried there, people are dying, you’re running low on soldiers.

“With us, you have the cards…You’re gambling with the lives of millions of people! You’re gambling with World War III! What you’re doing is very disrespectful to this country.”

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy clashed with US President Donald Trump at the Oval Office today (SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)

Needless to say, the meeting didn’t look half as chummy as the one Trump just had with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

This was probably what was running through the mind of Ukraine’s Ambassador to the US, Oksana Markarova, if her reaction to the spat is anything to go by.

Footage of the politician – who Zelenskyy appointed in February 2021 – uncomfortably covering her face and holding her head in her hands has been circulating on social media.

In the short clip, Markarova also appeared to softly shake her head as Trump and Zelenskyy came to verbal blows in front of the media.

Ukraine’s Oksana Markarova was seen holding her head in her hands as the world leaders argued (X)

According to the BBC, she also did the same while leaving the White House with Zelenskyy, as the publication reported that Markarova ‘appeared to shake her head as she quietly shuffled past’.

A scheduled news conference between the quarrelling leaders has been cancelled following the chaos in the Oval Office, according to the White House.

Trump also issued a statement regarding the row in a post shared to his social media platform, Truth Social.

He wrote: “We had a very meaningful meeting in the White House today. Much was learned that could never be understood without conversation under such fire and pressure.

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Reaction of Ukraine’s Ambassador to Washington to Trump and Zelenskyy’s debate.

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10:35 AM · Feb 28, 2025

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“It’s amazing what comes out through emotion, and I have determined that President Zelenskyy is not ready for Peace if America is involved, because he feels our involvement gives him a big advantage in negotiations.

“I don’t want advantage, I want PEACE. He disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office. He can come back when he is ready for Peace.”

I’ll bet Markarova’s really looking forward to round two, eh?

A spokesperson for the UK government has shared a statement in response to Donald Trump’s decision to pause of military aid to Ukraine.

In case you haven’t noticed, it’s all gone a bit t*ts up on the global political stage. What was intended to be a routine visit from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the White House to sign a minerals agreement with the US went horribly, horribly wrong after the pair ended up having a public bust-up in the Oval Office.

The following days have seen numerous European countries reaffirm their support for Zelenskyy, amid Russia’s full-scale invasion of the country, while President Trump and his ‘first buddy’ Elon Musk decided to call out the Ukrainian leader on social media.

Not content with accusing Zelenskyy of ‘gambling with WW3’, Trump has now announced the decision to pause all military aid to Ukraine, with a White House aid insisting the decision will secure peace between the two nations.

“President [Trump] has been clear that he is focused on peace,” White House official anonymously told Sky News.

“We need our partners to be committed to that goal as well. We are pausing and reviewing our aid to ensure that is contributing to a solution.”

The UK government has now responded to the latest development, with a spokesperson telling Sky News that ministers are ‘absolutely committed’ to achieving piece in Ukraine.

Kier Starmer has been vocal in his support for the Ukrainian leader (Toby Melville – WPA Pool/Getty Images)

“We remain absolutely committed to securing a lasting peace in Ukraine and are engaging with key allies in support of this effort,” a UK government spokesperson has said.

“It is the right thing to do, and is in our interest to do so.”

The spokesperson went on to reference the UK government’s recent decision to provide further military aid to Ukraine, which includes an annual £3 billion for ‘as long as it takes’ as well as releasing £2.26 billion from frozen Russian assets in the form of a loan.

Emphasising the support is to guarantee Ukraine will be in a position to negotiate peace with Russia, the spokesperson added: “In addition, we’ve set up a partnership with Ukraine that allows them to use £1.6 billion of UK export finance to buy 5,000 air defence missile manufactured in Belfast, putting Ukraine in the strongest possible position for peace.”

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has also addressed the shocking development in a new interview, telling BBC Radio 4 that the PM is ‘laser-focused’ on achieving peace.

“He’s laser-focused on getting peace. He won’t be derailed by announcements,” she said.

Several NATO countries have since promised to step up their support for Ukraine (Justin Tallis – WPA Pool/Getty Images)

“He will continue that dialogue with our oldest and strongest ally, the US, and with European partners and with Ukraine.”

The US president’s decision to pause military aid will come as a huge blow to Ukraine, with former President Biden giving the Eastern European country $66.5 billion (£52.3 billion) since Russia invaded on 24 February 2022.

A report from The New York Times adds that $1 billion (£787.3 million) in arms and ammunition have now been withheld by the US, meaning that Ukraine will now have to negotiate with private contractors.

Here is how the Russian government has responded to the US President Donald Trump’s decision to pause all military aid to neighbouring Ukraine.

International relations have been spiralling since Trump’s disastrous meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday (28 February) at the White House, which saw the US leader tell Zelenskyy he was ‘gambling with World War III’ during an explosive televised argument.

The US government had been providing extensive military support to Ukraine since Russia invaded the eastern part of the country on 24 February, 2022, with Joe Biden’s administration providing the Kyiv government with $66.5 billion (£52.3 billion) in military aid before the end of his term.

Meaning that Trump’s decision to suspend support – which the administration supports their broader aim of ‘peace’ in the region – will come as a major blow to Ukraine.

Zelenskyy’s government is yet to respond publicly to the move, however Russia‘s spokesman Dmitry Peskov has, branding Trump’s decision ‘the best contribution to the cause of peace.’

“It is obvious that the United States has been the main supplier of this war so far. If the United States stops being (an arms supplier) or suspends these supplies, it will probably be the best contribution to the cause of peace,” the Kremlin spokesperson said, via Reuters.

The explosive meeting between the US and Ukrainian leaders was broadcast for the world to see (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

The move was also backed by foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov who called the president’s statements on Ukraine ‘common sense’.

Statements from the Kremlin praising Trump’s dedication to peace come amid reports that Russian military forces launched an overnight drone attack against energy infrastructure near the southern city of Odesa, injuring four people.

“A strike has damaged energy infrastructure, there are power cuts in parts of the city,” regional governor Oleh Kiper said on Telegram, via Sky News.

Various leaders have since reaction to the US decision to pause aid, with a UK government spokesperson saying Britain remains ‘absolutely committed to securing a lasting peace in Ukraine’.

Russian officials have since reacted to the US decision to pause military aid to Ukraine (MIKHAIL METZEL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Meanwhile, Vice-President JD Vance has doubled-down on his and Trump’s stance regarding Ukraine, saying the Eastern European country needs to give the US an economic interest in the region.

“If you want real security guarantees, if you want to actually ensure that Vladimir Putin does not invade Ukraine again, the very best security guarantee is to give Americans economic upside in the future of Ukraine,” he said.

Ukraine’s Prime Minister has since said the country was ‘very grateful’ for US support and was still committed to signing the minerals agreement.

Vance also criticised the decision of Britain and France to volunteer peacekeeping forces to the region, claiming the military forces from both nations hadn’t ‘fought a war in 30 or 40 years’.

Russia has responded to President Donald Trump’s decision to pause all military aid to Ukraine.

Last night (3 March) the US Government announced they would be suspending all military aid to the Eastern European country, following a tense meeting between Presidents Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy just days before.

The US had previously been a huge supporter of the Ukrainian military, following Russia’s 2022 invasion, with the previous Biden administration providing Kyiv with over $66.5 billion (£52.3 billion) in aid.

Russia has now responded to the news, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov calling the move ‘best contribution to the cause of peace’.

“If this is true, then this is a decision that can really encourage the Kyiv regime to (come to) the peace process,” Peskov said (via Reuters).

“It is obvious that the United States has been the main supplier of this war so far. If the United States stops being (an arms supplier) or suspends these supplies, it will probably be the best contribution to the cause of peace.”

Peskov previously spoke about the Trump administration’s shift in foreign policy over the weekend, saying the Republican president’s coincided with their ‘vision’.

“The new administration is rapidly changing all foreign policy configurations,” he told a reporter from Russian state media on Wednesday, with the comments later published on Sunday (2 March) via The Guardian.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov (Mikhail Svetlov/Getty Images)

“This largely coincides with our vision.”

Peskov continued: “There is a long way to go, because there is huge damage to the whole complex of bilateral relations. But if the political will of the two leaders, President Putin and President Trump, is maintained, this path can be quite quick and successful.”

Russia’s foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov has also praised 78-year-old US leader, calling his approach to Ukraine ‘common sense’.

Meanwhile numerous European leaders have since reaffirmed their support for Ukraine, with UK Prime Minister Kier Starmer chairing a summit with various NATO leaders in the aftermath of Zelenskyy and Trump’s public fall out.

“We remain absolutely committed to securing a lasting peace in Ukraine and are engaging with key allies in support of this effort,” a UK government spokesperson said earlier today, after the decision to suspend military aid was confirmed.

“It is the right thing to do, and is in our interest to do so.”

Relations between Ukraine and the US have been tense since the White House meeting (SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)

The spokesperson added: “In addition, we’ve set up a partnership with Ukraine that allows them to use £1.6 billion of UK export finance to buy 5,000 air defence missile manufactured in Belfast, putting Ukraine in the strongest possible position for peace.”

Russia and Ukraine have been locked in an all out conflict since 24 February 2022, when Russian military invaded the Eastern provinces of the country. Russian forces currently occupy numerous oblasts in the east of Ukraine, while the Ukrainian military has taken small amounts of Russian territory along the boarder.