Bernd Debusmann Jr
Reporting from the White House

More now from Trump, who's speaking to reporters outside White House.

He's saying that to resume talks Zelensky must say he wants peace. He also claims that Zelensky wants to come back to the White House "right now" but that is not convenient for Trump.

He adds that a ceasefire could take place "immediately".

"We're not going to keep fighting, were going to get the war done or let them go and see what happens, let them fight it out," the president tells reporters.

Bernd Debusmann Jr
Reporting from the White House

Reporters have crushed onto the White House driveway to hear Trump's parting words before he boards a helicopter and heads for his Florida home, Mar-a-Lago.

It's hard to hear, but we're getting some lines on what he is saying.

As he describes the meeting with Zelensky - which he says "did not turn out great" - he repeats many of the same lines that we heard from the Oval Office.

Primarily, he says he wants to end the war soon. He says he wants peace and not a protracted war.

He adds that Zelensky "overplayed his hand" and "wants to fight, fight, fight".

Chris Mason
Political editor

A No 10 spokeswoman says:

“The prime minister has tonight spoken to both President Trump and President Zelensky.

“He retains unwavering support for Ukraine, and is doing all he can to find a path forward to a lasting peace based on sovereignty and security for Ukraine.

“The prime minister looks forward to hosting international leaders on Sunday including President Zelensky.”

Vitaliy Shevchenko
Russia editor, BBC Monitoring

Here's a look at some of the latest Ukrainian reaction to the tense meeting in the White House.

Political commentator Volodymyr Fesenko tells Ukrainian TV: “President Zelensky’s nerves probably failed him. He should have been more restrained and flexible, especially reacting to JD Vance. And it’s best not to argue with Trump”.

Ukrainian journalist Illia Ponomarenko also weighs in: "It's just shameful. They are shamelessly bending over backward to find anything—anything at all—to pick at in Zelensky," he wrote on X.

"And all of this is happening in front of the entire world, before the global press, live on air. They are trying everything on earth to break Zelensky".

Officials in Ukraine have also responded. Maksym Kozytsky, head of regional administration in western Lviv region, writes: “I’ve been watching the events in Washington closely. England had Richard the Lionheart, we have Volodymyr the Lionheart.”

Myroslava Petsa and Daniel Wittenberg
BBC Ukrainian, in the Oval Office

Image source, EPA

The day began with the same cordial routine the White House reserves for visiting foreign dignitaries.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was welcomed by President Donald Trump at the door of the West Wing with an honour guard, and the leaders shook hands politely.

We were in the Oval Office as part of Ukrainian media pool, witnessing the well-rehearsed formalities.

Zelensky presented President Trump with the championship belt of Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk.

Trump complimented Zelensky's clothing.

So far, so diplomatic.

But minutes later, what erupted was unprecedented to say the least. The genial tone devolved into acrimony and chaos. Voices were raised, eyes-rolled, aspersions cast - and all in front of the world's TV cameras.

Journalists in the room watched with gaping mouths, as extraordinary exchanges followed.

Afterwards, our American colleagues remarked that they had never seen anything like it. "A scene like this was simply unimaginable in the White House," one told me.

Continue reading: What it was like in the room during the shouting match

After being told by Donald Trump during their meeting earlier today to "be thankful", Volodymyr Zelensky appears to have sent out countless messages of thanks to world leaders who have publicly reiterated their support for Ukraine.

The message: "Thank you for your support" has been posted by Zelensky on X at least 20 times in response posts from leaders, including France's Emmanuel Macron, Poland's Donald Tusk and the Netherlands' Dick Schoof.

In an earlier message on X, Zelensky thanked his US counterpart - and Americans - several times over.

Public breakdown signals looming crisis in Natopublished at 21:27 Greenwich Mean Time 28 February

21:27 GMT 28 February

Jeremy Bowen
International editor

Image source, EPA

The relationship between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky was bad enough before the shouting match in the Oval Office. Now it’s in pieces.

The public breakdown also signals a major crisis looming between European members of Nato and the US. Question marks about the US commitment to Europe are now redoubled.

President Trump has put heavy pressure on Ukraine while offering big concessions to Russia.

It appears to be evidence that his priority is mending relations with Russia – and concessions from Ukraine are a price he’s prepared to pay.

If Trump follows the breakdown of talks with a freeze on military aid Ukraine will fight on. The doubts are how effectively, and for how long.

Conversations I’ve had in Kyiv indicate that Ukraine is hoping that its European allies will take up the slack. There are also questions about how much power Russia can deploy, having lost so many men and machines.

We've already brought you comments from Zelensky and the White House in response to today's meeting, but other world leaders are now reacting too.

A number of Ukraine's key European allies were quick to confirm their continued support for the country. French President Emmanuel Macron said: "Russia is the aggressor, and Ukraine is the aggressed people. I think we were all right to help Ukraine... and to continue to do so."

Meanwhile, in a post on X directed towards Zelensky, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said: "You are never alone dear president... we will continue working with you for a just and lasting peace".

Trump, however was praised by the deputy head of the Russian security council, Dmitry Medvedev, who said Zelensky "finally got a proper slap down in the Oval Office".

Similarly, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said the US president "stood bravely for peace. Even if it was difficult for many to digest".

Image source, Reuters

US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky were locked in a testy exchange in the Oval Office earlier today - which led to Zelensky being told to leave the White House.

It's a lot to take in, so we've rounded up the key points you may have missed.

• Trump accused Zelensky of "gambling with World War Three". US Vice-President JD Vance also weighed in, and called Zelensky "disrespectful"

• Zelensky said there should be "no compromises" with Vladimir Putin - but Trump says Kyiv will have to make concessions to reach a peace deal with Russia

• Shortly after the talk ended, Zelensky left the White House - without signing a much-touted deal that would offer Washington access to Ukraine's rare earth minerals
• According to our US partner CBS, the Ukrainian delegation left the Oval Office to a "separated room" where they were told to leave
• A scheduled press conference with Zelensky and Trump was cancelled
• Trump posted on his Truth Social platform and called for Zelensky to return "when he is ready for peace"
• Zelensky thanked the US and Trump four times in a post on X
• European officials and leaders have expressed support for Ukraine, with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk telling Zelensky: "You're not alone"

Some Russian officials are coming to Trump's defence following the meeting in the Oval Office earlier today.

In a post on X shortly after the exchange between Trump, Vance and Zelensky, Russian security council deputy head Dmitry Medvedev wrote that Zelensky "finally got a proper slap down in the Oval Office. And @realDonaldTrump is right: The Kiev regime is 'gambling with WWIII.'"

During the confrontation, Trump made the same remark to Zelensky about the threat of a third World War.

Bernd Debusmann Jr
Reporting from the White House

Senator Lindsey Graham spoke outside the Oval Office a few moments ago - and it's clear his views on Zelensky have shifted.

Graham, a formerly staunch defender of Ukraine, just told reporters that Zelensky needs to resign or someone else needs to take over negotiations.

The senator added that he did not believe Zelensky should have brought up ceasefires or security concerns ahead of the deal.

He's also called on Zelensky to "apologise" to Americans during his Fox News interview, which is expected later tonight.

Exchange a reminder of what is at stake for Ukrainepublished at 20:26 Greenwich Mean Time 28 February

20:26 GMT 28 February

James Waterhouse
Ukraine correspondent in Kyiv

Image source, Reuters

The spilling over we saw in the Oval Office today reflected what's at stake for Zelensky and his country.

This is not just about minerals or money; it's about making sure three years of bloody fighting hasn't been for nothing. It’s about the future existence of Ukraine in the face of an existential war.

Should he have stayed calmer? Perhaps, but Ukraine’s leader wears this war, it is part of his political being. Clearly this mineral proposal was not as enticing for Kyiv as Washington made out.

Ukrainians feel any ceasefire - without a guarantee from the US that it would step in if war reignited - would not be worth the paper it was written on.

The worrying signs were there when Zelensky folded his arms in a defensive way as he came under an almost coordinated shouting assault from US president and vice-president.

That is a worrying symptom of a White House not really fixating on the realities of the war and the cost Ukraine has paid, especially when Zelensky had to remind Trump of the year it started.

Such a visible deterioration between two allies has been a difficult and shocking sight here. Donald Trump could yet come to Ukraine’s aid, or today could have been the moment he cut ties with it, to Russia’s delight.

We can now bring you more detail about the moments just after Zelensky and Trump's tense meeting in the Oval Office.

According to our US partner CBS, the Ukrainian delegation left the Oval Office to a "separated room".

There, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and Secretary of State Marco Rubio told them to leave the White House.

As we reported earlier, a scheduled press conference with Zelensky and Trump was cancelled shortly after the Oval Office meeting. We also watched live as the Ukrainian president exited the White House into a waiting vehicle.

The White House says Trump and Vice-President JD Vance "will never allow the American people to be taken advantage of".

In a statement released shortly after their meeting with Zelensky, the White House says the pair "will always stand up for the interests of the American people and those who respect the United States’ position in the world".

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha says Volodymyr Zelensky "has the bravery and strength to stand up for what is right," in a post on X, following the president's early departure from the White House.

"He stands up for Ukraine and the goal of a just and lasting peace," Sybiha continues, adding that Ukraine has "always been and will continue to be grateful to America for its support".

We're now seeing photos of the podiums and tables that were set up for the anticipated news conference and deal-signing ceremony between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

The event in the East Room of the White House was abruptly cancelled after the explosive exchange between the two leaders.

Image source, EPA

Image source, EPA

Image source, EPA

In his first comments after meeting with Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanks his US counterpart - and Americans - several times over.

(For context: Trump earlier told Zelensky he should be "thankful" for US support, while Vice-President JD Vance accused him of not saying thank you during the meeting.)

Here's Zelensky's post on X in full:

"Thank you America, thank you for your support, thank you for this visit."

"Thank you @POTUS, Congress, and the American people. Ukraine needs just and lasting peace, and we are working exactly for that."

Though some Republican lawmakers have criticised Trump and Vance for their confrontation with Zelensky, other allies are rushing to their defence.

Representative Rick Scott of Florida writes on X: "Thank you President Trump for standing up for America".

Senate foreign relations member Mike Lee repeats Scott's remarks and also thanks the two for "putting America first".

Far-right representative Marjorie Taylor-Greene says: "Putting Zelensky in his place while he disrespects the U.S. in the Oval Office is exactly what American leadership should look like."

The atmosphere couldn't have been more differentpublished at 19:21 Greenwich Mean Time 28 February

19:21 GMT 28 February

Chris Mason
Political editor

Image source, Getty Images

Just as the rest of us digest the astonishing exchanges in the White House, so do people in government.

Jaws are dropping there just as they are elsewhere.

Just 24 hours ago, I stood in the Oval Office as the prime minister exchanged warm words with President Trump.

The atmosphere tonight couldn’t have been more different.

So what happens next?

The summit on Sunday, hosted by the prime minister, takes on an even greater significance, as Europe collectively tries to work out how it responds to the very public breakdown in the relationship between Washington and Kyiv.

Image source, Getty Images

European leaders are just now beginning to respond to the tense exchange between Trump, Vance and Zelensky.

In a post on X, Polish Prime Minister and former president of the European Council Donald Tusk addressed Zelensky and said "dear Ukrainian friends, you are not alone".

Asked about the confrontation while in Portugal, French President Emmanuel Macron tells French media that Russia is the aggressor and the Ukrainian people are those one being attacked.

He adds that European countries and other allies were right to help Ukraine three years ago and to sanction Russia and to continue to do so.

He adds that it's important to "respect" those who have been fighting since the start for their dignity, rights and the security of Europe.