President Trump chastised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during an explosive, closed-door meeting at the White House on Friday, warning the leader that President Vladimir Putin would “destroy” Ukraine if he wanted to, according to a report.
The three-hour sit-down, which took place a day after Trump held a call with Putin, reportedly devolved into a “shouting match,” with Trump “cursing all the time,” people familiar with the matter told The Financial Times. Sources told the outlet that Trump also dismissed maps of the frontline in Ukraine, insisting Zelensky surrender the Donbas region to Russia.
The president’s rhetoric appeared to mirror many of Putin’s talking points, a European official with knowledge of the meeting said. Trump reportedly told Zelensky that Putin had described the bloody war that has ravaged Ukraine as a “special operation, not even a war.”
“If [Putin] wants it, he will destroy you,” Trump warned Zelensky, at one point throwing the maps of the battlefield to one side, the official said. Trump then expressed frustration, saying he was “sick” of seeing the map of the frontlines.
“This red line, I don’t even know where this is. I’ve never been there,” Trump lambasted, according to the official.
Following the tense meeting, Zelensky was described as “very negative,” one official told the publication. Meanwhile, European leaders remained “not optimistic but pragmatic” as they planned next steps.
The White House did not respond to The Post’s request for comment by the time of publication.
Zelensky’s primary goal for the meeting was reportedly to procure powerful Tomahawk missiles that could target Russia within range of remotely launched attacks from Ukrainian territory. However, Trump later urged Russia and Ukraine to end their nearly four-year war at the current battle lines.
“Enough blood has been shed, with property lines being defined by War and Guts. They should stop where they are,” Trump posted to Truth Social shortly after the volatile sitdown. “Let both claim Victory, let History decide! No more shooting, no more Death, no more vast and unsustainable sums of money spent.”
Zelensky told reporters that Ukraine was ready for an end to the war. “I agree with the president, yes, both sides must stop,” he said. “But between us, it’s about Putin, because we didn’t begin this war.”
Though Zelensky left the White House meeting empty-handed, he maintained that it was significant Trump did not outright say “no” to the possibility of acquiring the long-range missiles.
“For today, it’s good again that he didn’t say no,” Zelensky told NBC’s “Meet the Press,” referring to Trump. “The Tomahawks, it’s very sensitive for Russians,” he added. “I think that Putin [is] afraid that [the] United States will deliver us Tomahawks. And I think that he’s really afraid that we will use [them].”
The Ukrainian leader also mentioned that Ukraine has proposed exchanging its drone technology for American weapons. Trump acknowledged that Washington and Kyiv have been discussing such an exchange.
“They make a very good drone,” Trump said of Ukraine.
https://nypost.com/2025/10/20/world-news/trump-warned-zelensky-that-putin-could-destroy-ukraine-if-he-wants-in-closed-door-shouting-match-report/