Zelenskyy was advised to wear a suit to White House and Trump was irritated when he didn't - report
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was advised to wear a suit on his White House visit, and Donald Trump was offended when he didn't, according to reports.
Axios reported that, ahead of the historic meeting, Zelenskyy was advised by Trump's team to ditch his usual military-style clothing for something more formal.
However, he didn't, wearing all black.
This, the US outlet added citing two sources, irritated Trump ahead of what quickly became a car crash of a meeting.
While it may seem like a small point, it clearly seemed to matter to the US leader.
As Trump shook Zelenskyy's hand at the entrance to the West Wing, he said: "He is all dressed up today."
During the press conference, Zelenskyy was even asked: "Why don't you wear a suit?"
"I will wear a costume when this war is finished," the Ukrainian leader responded.
This week, both French and British leaders visited the White House.
They gave perhaps archetypical performances of what foreign visits to the White House may be like during Trump's second administration - lots of flattery and building bridges.
This was summarised perhaps best in Sir Keir Starmer producing a letter to Trump from King Charles, inviting him for an unprecedented second state visit.
Leaders heading to meet Trump now seem to need to hit all the right notes to stay on his good side.
Ukrainians rally around Zelenskyy after White House berating
Ukrainians on the streets of Kyiv mostly rallied around President Volodymyr Zelenskyy after his public dressing down by Donald Trump and JD Vance.
The angry exchange in the White House left allies fearing peace efforts might breakdown after both French and British leaders trod the well-worn path to Washington this week.
Things didn't go as planned for the Ukrainian leader - scroll down to the see the fallout from the meeting.
Despite this, on a chilly night on the streets of the Ukrainian capital, people were supportive of their president.
"Trump finally understood that Zelenskyy is a president that will not just give up," said Mila, an HR manager.
"It is not Ukraine that is gambling with World War Three - more likely we are being used in this game as a bargaining chip," said Oksana, a business consultant, in response to one of Trump's comments to Zelenskyy during the fiery exchange.
While most Ukrainians said their country could keep going, whatever lay ahead, some expressed concern about the apparent breakdown between the leaders.
"Without the arms supplied by the United States we will not win this war and I do not know what's going to happen," said Andriy, a 59-year-old university lecturer.
Emergency podcast: The big bust-up between Trump and Zelenskyy
Richard Engel and Yalda Hakim analyse the fiery Oval Office argument.
They examine the fallout from what may be the most serious political row for a generation - and ask what comes next for the relationship between the US and Europe.
Zelenskyy admits spat 'was not good' for either side
Volodymyr Zelenskyy is appearing on Fox News following the Oval Office clash.
"This kind of spat is not good for both sides," he admits.
"I'm very open but I can't change our Ukrainian attitude to Russia," he says. "They are killers to us. This is very clear to us.
"America is our friend, Europe is our friend… Russia is our enemy. It doesn't mean we don't want peace."
The Ukrainian president is being pressed by host Bret Baier on whether he owes Trump an apology. Declining to answer directly, he says: "I respect President [Trump] and respect American people. I think that we have to be very open and very honest.
"We are partners, we are very close partners. We have to be fair, we have to be free."
He does admit it wasn't ideal for the exchange to take place in front of reporters. "Some things we have to discuss out of [the] media," Zelenskyy says.
Trump-Zelenskyy row dominates front pages
There's one story dominating Saturday's national newspaper front pages after that extraordinary exchange between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office.
Click below to look through tomorrow's front pages...
Sky News correspondents' views on Trump and Zelenskyy's clash
Our correspondents have been providing their analysis of Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy's heated exchange in the Oval Office.
The US president told his Ukrainian counterpart "you're gambling with World War Three" before saying in a post on Truth Social that Zelenskyy can return "when he's ready for peace".
Read the thoughts of our correspondents below...
Democrats accuse Trump and Vance of 'doing Putin's dirty work'
We've also received reaction from Democrat politicians, who have slammed Donald Trump for the heated meeting with Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer blasted Trump and JD Vance for "doing Putin's dirty work".
Meanwhile, Arizona senator Ruben Gallego called the Oval Office exchange "a disgrace", with Connecticut's Chris Murphy labelling it an "utter embarrassment for America, this whole sad scene".
Trump: Zelenskyy overplayed his hand - he must say he wants to make peace
Donald Trump is speaking to reporters before boarding Marine One at the White House.
He says talks with Volodymyr Zelenskyy "did not work out great from his standpoint," adding the Ukrainian president overplayed his hand in talks in the Oval Office.
Trump adds the US is looking for peace, not a 10-year war, and insists a ceasefire can take place immediately.
"I think if you had a ceasefire, it would be a ceasefire, a real one and that would end it, but he [Zelenskyy] doesn't want to do that," Trump says.
In order to restart talks with the US, he explains Zelenskyy must say he wants to make peace.
"He wants to come back right now," Trump says, adding "I can't do that".
Zelenskyy thanks European leaders for their support
We've told you about the messages of support Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been receiving from European leaders (see our 8.34pm post).
The Ukrainian president has now posted on social media, thanking the leaders for their messages after his heated meeting with Donald Trump.
Starmer expresses 'unwavering' support for Ukraine after speaking to Trump and Zelenskyy
We're hearing the first reaction from Sir Keir Starmer this evening, who has expressed his "unwavering support" for Ukraine.
Downing Street says the prime minister has spoken to both Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy after their fiery exchange in the Oval Office this afternoon.
Starmer "is doing all he can to find a path forward to a lasting peace based on sovereignty and security for Ukraine," the statement added.
Zelenskyy will be among the leaders attending a summit hosted by Starmer in the UK on Sunday.
'It's time for cool heads', Boris Johnson says
Boris Johnson has now weighed in on Volodymyr Zelenskyy's early exit from the White House after explosive talks with Donald Trump.
"It's time for cool heads and to remember that the US and Ukraine are on the same side," he said in a post on X.
Johnson said Zelenskyy has led his people "heroically" for three years "against completely unprovoked aggression" from Russia.
He goes on to say the best way forward is for the minerals deal to be signed as soon as possible, adding "there is still a path to peace".
'Strong men make peace, weak men make war', Hungary's prime minister says
More reaction to bring you now, this time from Hungary's prime minister, who has given his support to Donald Trump.
Viktor Orban, a long-term Trump ally, said: "Strong men make peace, weak men make war."
"Today President Donald Trump stood bravely for peace. Even if it was difficult for many to digest. Thank you, Mr President!"
Norway's prime minister criticises Trump over 'deeply unreasonable' comments
Norway's prime minister has criticised Donald Trump, calling the fallout of his meeting with Volodymyr Zelenskyy "disheartening" and saying the US president's comments were "deeply unreasonable".
In a post on Facebook, Jonas Gahr Store said: "That Trump accuses Zelenskyy of gambling with World War Three is deeply unreasonable and a statement I distance myself from."
West Wing staff eat White House lunch in Zelenskyy's absence
Donald Trump invited team members from the West Wing of the White House to eat the lunch intended for Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
It comes after the Ukrainian president left following explosive talks with Trump and vice president JD Vance in the Oval Office.
A picture of the menu has been shared in this post on X from White House deputy chief of staff Dan Scavino.
Like everywhere else, Moscow will have watched this exchange open-mouthed - stunned by its implications.
But while jaws will still be on the floor in Europe, here in Russia they're already grinning from ear to ear, because it really couldn't have gone any better for the Kremlin.
Not only was Volodymyr Zelenskyy publicly humiliated by the leader of the nation on which Ukraine's future depends, the attack read like a script written by Vladimir Putin.
The Ukrainian leader was accused of "forcing conscripts to the frontline", of taking foreign leaders on a "propaganda tour" and even "gambling with World War 3". They are phrases one hears on Russian state media on an almost daily basis.
Under the Biden administration, that kind of language was aimed at Putin, but this was an illustration of how Trump has turned everything on its head and Russia's president is the beneficiary.
When it was Macron and Starmer in the White House earlier this week, there was a sense of anxiety coming from the Kremlin. On both occasions, Vladimir Putin felt the need to make public overtures towards Washington, as if to remind Donald Trump of what Russia has to offer, betraying a fear that he may be vulnerable to the other side of the argument.
Well, there's definitely no anxiety now - instead Moscow appears to be gloating.
"Historic" was the one-word reaction from Kirill Dmitriev, the Harvard-educated head of Russia's sovereign wealth fund, who was in Riyadh last week for the first meeting between Russian and US officials.
And the reaction from Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova hinted at how Russia might use this going forward.
"It's a miracle of restraint how Trump and Vance restrained themselves and didn't punch this scumbag," she wrote on Telegram, full of flattery.
Expect Moscow to dial up the charm offensive, giving Trump the "respect" he accused Zelenskyy of lacking.
The aim will be to make tonight's spat a permanent separation.
Macron has phone call with Zelenskyy as European leaders share messages of support
French President Emmanuel Macron had Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the phone after the Ukrainian president's fiery meeting with Donald Trump.
It comes as European leaders have been sending messages of support to Zelenskyy.
Friedrich Merz, Christian Democratic Union leader and likely next German chancellor after the recent election, has said his country "stands with Ukraine in good and testing times".
"We must never confuse aggressor and victim in this terrible war," he went on to say.
The president of the European Commission has also taken to X to share a message of support for Zelenskyy.
"Your dignity honours the bravery of the Ukrainian people," Ursula von der Leyen said.
She told Zelenskyy to be "strong, brave and fearless".
"You are never alone," she adds, and goes on to say "we will continue working with you for a just and lasting peace".
