Watch in full: Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky clash on Ukraine and what it means

The heated row between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky has shocked the world, leaving hope of a peace deal in limbo. See it in full and what it means for the US and Europe.

The heated row between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has shocked the world, leaving hope of a peace deal in limbo.

Here, we look at what it means for the US and Europe, with our US Correspondent Tom Minear, and our Europe Correspondent Sophie Elsworth.

You can watch the full video of the showdown of the two leaders above from the White House.

PLEASING PUTIN NO WAY TO PEACE

Donald Trump wants to stop the killing in Ukraine. He also wants a Nobel Peace Prize. He could accomplish both by forcing the aggressor – rather than the victim – to end the war.

That would truly represent peace through strength, the President’s foreign policy principle he borrowed from Ronald Reagan. After Mr Trump’s brutish attack on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, his Republican predecessor must be turning in his grave.

Mr Trump’s supporters like to say he is playing four-dimensional chess with other world leaders, as though his every move to put Ukraine off-side – blocking their NATO membership, declining to provide US security guarantees for a ceasefire, demanding their critical minerals, calling Mr Zelensky a dictator – is part of some grand scheme.

His Oval Office outburst proves none of that is true.

In a moment that up-ended a global order that has held for decades, the President placed his trust not in America’s democratic ally but in Russian President Vladimir Putin, the dictator to blame for illegally invading Ukraine.

Mr Trump evidently fears confronting Mr Putin will spark World War III. He prefers making Mr Zelensky hand over his territory, as though this awful war can end with a real estate deal.

European leaders know differently.

US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky meet in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, DC.

The Russian President has never respected previous peace agreements and has no reason to start now. If anything, he will be emboldened to expand his imperial aspirations if eastern Europe can no longer rely on America’s protection.

Mr Trump thinks this is irrelevant for the US because it is a “big, beautiful ocean” away, a geopolitical analysis that is terrifying in its naivety. Is there any way to change his mind?

The Republican is so stubborn that it is difficult to imagine a good outcome for Ukraine and Europe that does not involve a grovelling apology from Mr Zelensky, whose mistake was to tell the truth rather than to play to the 78-year-old’s ego.

And even that may not be enough.

The alternative is that Europe secures peace and deters Russia alone. The UK, France and Germany are already trying to rise to the occasion. They can only hope that in doing so, Mr Trump will finally figure out right from wrong – and find a backbone.

US President Donald Trump and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky meet in the Oval Office of the White House.

EUROPE AFFIRMS WHO IS IN THE RIGHT

What a train wreck.

The meeting between US president Donald Trump and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky was a disaster in the making.

What was meant to be a cordial get together at the Oval Office quickly descended into a heated argument between the two leaders.

Awkward body language, finger pointing and the talking over one another during the 10-minute exchange, it almost couldn’t get any worse.

Mr Trump and US Vice President JD Vance accused Mr Zelensky of being ungrateful for America’s military and political support before Mr Trump then claimed the Ukrainian leader was “gambling with World War Three”.

Mr Trump later posted on social media platform Truth Social: “It’s amazing what comes out through emotion, and I have determined that President Zelensky is not ready for peace if America is involved”.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky leaves the White House after meeting with US President Donald Trump, in Washington, DC.

The American-Ukrainian relations were shattered right in front of the world’s waiting media press pack.

Now US military support for Ukraine is in limbo and the two leaders were meant to sign a minerals deal but that didn’t happen either.

Mr Zelensky was given his marching orders by the US president after the meeting finished on a sour note, but despite this it didn’t stop many of the world’s leaders quickly jumping to the defence of Mr Zelensky.

French president Emmanuel Macron posted on X: “There is an aggressor: Russia.

“There is a people under attack: Ukraine.

“We were all right to help Ukraine and sanction Russia three years ago and to continue to do so”.

There is an aggressor: Russia.

There is a victim: Ukraine.

We were right to help Ukraine and sanction Russia three years ago—and to keep doing so.

By “we,” I mean the Americans, the Europeans, the Canadians, the Japanese, and many others.

Thank you to…

— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) February 28, 2025

And a spokesperson for British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said shortly after the clash that he “retains unwavering support for Ukraine”.

Dear Volodymyr @zelenskyyua, we stand with #Ukraine in good and in testing times. We must never confuse aggressor and victim in this terrible war. (FM)

— Friedrich Merz (@_FriedrichMerz) February 28, 2025

While Germany’s Friedrich Merz, whose Christian Democrat party won last week’s elections, also posted on X that his country would, “Stand with Ukraine in good and in testing times … we must never confuse aggressor and victim in this terrible war.”

Your dignity honors the bravery of the Ukrainian people.

Be strong, be brave, be fearless.
You are never alone, dear President @ZelenskyyUa.

We will continue working with you for a just and lasting peace.

— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) February 28, 2025

The European Commission’s president Ursula von der Leyen also shared a message of support for Ukraine.

“Your dignity honours the bravery of the Ukrainian people. Be strong, be brave, be fearless”.

Time will tell about the real damage done by this 10 minute meeting that Mr Zelensky will likely live to regret.

Originally published as Watch in full: Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky clash on Ukraine and what it means