In a rare show of unity, Republican leaders have come out in strong support of former President Donald Trump following a heated encounter in the White House with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Vice President JD Vance. The contentious meeting, marked by sharp exchanges in the Oval Office, culminated in Zelensky being asked to leave without finalizing a joint minerals development deal with the U.S.

Senator Lindsey Graham went further by suggesting that Zelensky should step down, arguing that the altercation endangers future U.S. military support for Kyiv. The dispute centered on Zelensky’s approach during the meeting, with Trump accusing him of having “overplayed his hand.” The Minerals deal, which could have bolstered Ukraine’s strategic resources, fell apart amid the escalating tensions.

Despite the fallout in Washington, Zelensky received a noticeably warmer reception from UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer at Downing Street, just a day ahead of his scheduled meeting with King Charles. Over the weekend, Zelensky also made an impassioned plea to the U.S. for a stronger stance in support of Kyiv, expressing his readiness to sign the minerals deal if concrete security guarantees were provided.

In a separate controversial stance, Trump has suggested that Ukraine might need to consider territorial concessions to Russia to help bring an end to the conflict, while also warning that Russia could face additional high tariffs and sanctions if President Vladimir Putin does not end what he described as a “ridiculous” war. This series of events has ignited widespread debate over U.S. foreign policy and its implications for both Ukraine and broader international relations.