President Donald Trump believes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky "overplayed his hand" during a meeting at the White House on Friday.
The meeting turned contentious when Zelenskyy attempted to explain how Russia has been an aggressor toward his country for more than a decade.
"The problem is I've empowered you to be a tough guy, and I don't think you'd be a tough guy without the United States and your people are very brave, but you're either going to make a deal or we're out and if we're out you'll fight it out," Trump told Zelenskyy during the meeting, which was supposed to take place before the pair signed a minerals deal to signal continued U.S. support.
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"You don't have the cards, but once we sign that deal, you're in a much better position, but you're not acting at all thankful, and that's not a nice thing," Trump told Zelenskyy in front of the press.
After the meeting, Trump asked Zelenskyy to leave the White House, Scripps News learned.
A source familiar with the matter said Trump had every intention of signing the deal but felt Zelenskyy wasn't serious.
Trump reiterated that sentiment as he left the White House on Friday.
"We had a meeting today, as you know, and I would say it didn't work out exactly great from his standpoint," Trump said. "He very much overplayed his hand. We're looking for peace. We're not looking for somebody that's going to sign up a strong power and then not make peace because they feel emboldened."
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Zelenskyy, meanwhile, thanked President Trump and the American people after abruptly leaving the White House.
"Thank you America, thank you for your support, thank you for this visit," he posted on X. "Thank you @POTUS, Congress, and the American people. Ukraine needs just and lasting peace, and we are working exactly for that."
As far as the minerals deal, a source tells Scripps News that the president is taking a step back from the negotiations until he feels Zelenskyy is serious.
Trump posted about the deal on Truth Social:
"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 wrote. "He disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office. He can come back when he is ready for Peace.”
