US President Donald Trump and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky failed to reach any agreement Friday after a fiery discussion in Washington DC.
Ukraine and the US were expected to sign a deal granting the US access to rare minerals in exchange for further military aid in the war Russia has waged against it for three years, but Zelensky left the White House early and Trump warned that he was gambling with World War 3.
“You’re gambling with millions of people … You’re gambling with World War Three,” Mr Trump said.
Mr Zelensky warned the US would “feel it in the future” if it did not continue to support Ukraine.
“Don’t tell us what we’re going to feel. We’re trying to solve a problem,” Mr Trump hit back.
Meanwhile France said it would continue to help Ukraine defend itself against Russia.
French President Emmanuel Macron said “we all were right to have helped Ukraine and sanctioned Russia three years ago, and to continue to do so.”
“There’s an aggressor, which is Russia, and a people attacked, which is Ukraine,” Macron told reporters as he was on a state visit to Portugal.
He added: “We must thank all those who helped and respect those who have been fighting since the beginning.”
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk vowed to stand by Ukraine following the contentious Trump-Zelenskyy meeting in the Oval Office.
