FIRST ON FOX: A critical demand from , unmet by President Trump, triggered a heated exchange during their joint press conference at the White House.

The world was taken aback on Friday as and Trump publicly clashed with Zelenskyy before the press and cameras. From the beginning of the Oval Office event, the interaction between Trump and the Ukrainian leader stood in stark contrast to Trump’s interactions with other world leaders earlier in the week.

Sources close to Zelenskyy indicate that tensions arose even before the event. The Trump administration reportedly presented the Ukrainian president with a proposed agreement: minerals in exchange for security. However, the deal lacked guarantees to protect Ukraine from further Russian aggression.

Zelenskyy had consistently stated before his visit to Washington, D.C., that Kyiv required security assurances to finalize a minerals agreement. His rejection of the deal reportedly irritated Trump and Vance, according to the source.

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Shortly after the press conference began, a sharp dispute erupted between the two leaders, leaving officials scrambling to understand the rapid deterioration of the situation.

“We cannot simply sign an agreement without substantial guarantees,” a Ukrainian defense advisor told Digital. “It’s counterproductive and rewards the aggressor.”

Zelenskyy’s refusal to sign the agreement apparently fueled the displeasure of Trump and Vice President JD Vance.

The has not verified the discussions preceding the press event.

The argument intensified after Trump attributed Russia’s 2014 and 2022 invasions of Ukraine to the absence of his presidency, blaming Democratic presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden.

“Yeah, that’s exactly right,” Vance concurred.

Zelenskyy countered that Russia’s attacks on Ukraine never ceased between 2014 and 2022, including Trump’s four-year term.

“Nobody stopped him, you know,” Zelenskyy stated, adding that Putin repeatedly violated existing agreements.

“What kind of diplomacy are you speaking about? What do you mean?” Zelenskyy questioned after Trump claimed alignment with both Russia and Ukraine.

Vance interrupted, saying, “I think it’s disrespectful for you to come into the Oval Office to try to litigate this in front of the American media.”

Zelenskyy has emphasized that while the U.S. under the Biden administration has provided significant aid to Kyiv, Ukrainian soldiers are the ones on the front lines, resisting Russian aggression that threatens Europe and could embolden countries like China, North Korea, and Iran, whose interests conflict with those of the U.S.

“You have a nice ocean and don’t feel it now, but you will feel it in the future,” he warned.

An angered Trump responded, “Don’t tell us what we’re going to feel. We’re trying to solve a problem. Don’t tell us what we’re going to feel.”