It was a weekend for the history books. What began with US President Donald Trump furiously berating Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the White House ended with a show of European unity in London and vows to wrestle negotiations over the Russia-Ukraine war away from the US.

Here are five key takeaways from a public bust-up that has profound implications for Washington’s relationship with some of its strongest allies:

Zelensky-Trump fallout

The unprecedented scenes that unfolded in the Oval Office on Friday appalled Western allies, but came after weeks of fundamental changes in transatlantic relations led by a new White House administration pushing an “America First” agenda.

Those changes first became apparent when US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said last month that Kyiv joining NATO was unrealistic – upending the alliance’s stated policy while handing Russia a major concession – and told European allies the US will no longer prioritize European and Ukrainian security.

Later, Vice President JD Vance made a blistering speech to European leaders in Munich, claiming they are suppressing free speech, losing control of immigration, refusing to work with hard-right parties in government – and that the biggest threat they face comes “from within,” rather than China and Russia.

And Trump had already wrongly accused Kyiv of starting the conflict and labeled Zelensky a “dictator.”

Then Zelensky met Trump on Friday as their two countries tried to hammer out an agreement that would give Washington access to Kyiv’s mineral resources in exchange for investment and what Ukraine hopes would be concrete security guarantees.

That deal looks off the table for now after the fiery showdown which saw the Ukrainians instructed to leave the White House, accused of being ungrateful for American military support.

Europe steps up

Western nations were quick to signal their continued support for Zelensky and his war-torn country.

On Saturday Zelensky arrived in London, where British Prime Minister Keir Starmer embraced him in front of the TV cameras. That warm reception also extended to a meeting with King Charles at Sandringham House.

But it was at a crucial summit of European leaders in London that European unity and allyship with Ukraine was on full display, as they attempted to forge a path toward a ceasefire and ramp up ongoing military support for Kyiv.

Starmer told the summit that the West is at a “crossroads in history” and “this is not a moment for more talk. It’s time to act.”

NATO chief Mark Rutte said more countries agreed to ramp up defense spending, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said it was vital for Europe to “rearm” and would present a plan to do that this week.

Fresh plan to stop the fighting

During the meeting, France and Britain proposed an alternative peace deal for Ukraine that would involve a month-long limited ceasefire, French President Emmanuel Macron told Le Figaro newspaper.

Countries would enter a “coalition of the willing” to defend a deal and guarantee peace, Starmer said, and his country would back this with “boots on the ground and planes in the air.”

Any potential peace plan would have to involve Russia, but Moscow would not dictate the terms of “any security guarantee,” Starmer added. Zelensky has not said whether he agreed with the proposal and Russia has already said it will not accept European troops as peacekeepers.

And it remains to be seen whether this proposal has legs with the White House, which has pursued direct peace talks with Moscow that currently do not include Ukraine or Europe.

American support still needed

What was clear from the meeting is that US support is still crucial for Ukraine peace efforts. Starmer reiterated any plan would need “strong US backing.”

Since his disastrous visit to Washington, Zelensky has repeatedly expressed his gratitude for both US and European military support. “There has not been a day when we have not felt this gratitude,” he said in his nightly address Sunday night.

Zelensky said on Saturday his country was ready to sign the rare minerals deal with the US, and called the US a “strategic partner,” saying it would not benefit anyone other than Russia if US assistance to Ukraine were to stop.

A win for Putin

Putin has been tight lipped about the Oval Office fracas although Russian state media and officials have reacted with glee.

Moscow is now anticipating talks aimed at rebuilding the US-Russia relationship will continue in the weeks ahead and, though nothing has been announced in public, there’s talk of a Trump-Putin summit being fast-tracked.

The first round of extraordinary talks between Russia and the US were held in Saudi Arabia last month, sidelining Ukraine. CNN has learned that preparations for a second round are underway, and the weekend’s spat will likely ensure Ukraine remains blocked out.

Trump’s National Security Adviser Mike Waltz has also indicated US support for new leadership in Ukraine and told CNN’s Dana Bash there needed to be “territory concessions” in exchange for security guarantees.

Friday’s spat prompted several accusations that the US was aligning with Russia over its allies. Democratic Senator Chris Murphy told CNN “the White House has become an arm of the Kremlin.”

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Zelensky says Trump’s backing is ‘crucial’ after US president berated him at White House

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky says US support is “crucial” a day after cutting short a visit to Washington DC following an extraordinary public argument with Donald Trump.

A meeting intended to discuss a natural resources deal imploded, with Trump and Vice President JD Vance berating the Ukrainian leader in front of reporters in the Oval Office. At one point, when Zelensky tried to respond, an angry Trump accused him of “gambling with World War III.”

A Europe already rattled by Trump’s overtures to Russia’s President Vladimir Putin quickly rallied around Zelensky, with the European Union’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, saying in a statement that it’s “clear that the free world needs a new leader.”

On Saturday, Zelensky appeared conciliatory when he posted on social media after arriving in London to meet UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

“It’s crucial for us to have President Trump’s support,” Zelensky said in a series of posts on X on Saturday morning. “He wants to end the war, but no one wants peace more than we do.”

Zelensky emphasized his gratitude for the US’ backing of Ukraine in the three years since Russia invaded his country.

In Friday’s fiery exchange, Vance questioned whether the Ukrainian leader had been thankful enough for US support.

“We are very grateful to the United States for all the support. I’m thankful to President Trump, Congress for their bipartisan support, and American people. Ukrainians have always appreciated this support, especially during these three years of full-scale invasion,” Zelensky reiterated in his posts on social media.

The Ukrainian leader stressed that, despite Friday’s clash, Ukraine and the US “remain strategic partners. But we need to be honest and direct with each other to truly understand our shared goals.”

He said that Ukraine is ready to sign the minerals agreement that he had traveled to the US to hammer out, but noted that “it’s not enough,” highlighting the absence of the security guarantees he’s been seeking.

“We need more than just that. A ceasefire without security guarantees is dangerous for Ukraine. We’ve been fighting for three years, and Ukrainian people need to know that America is on our side,” Zelensky said.

Starmer told Zelensky Saturday that Ukraine has the UK’s “full backing” as they met at the British leader’s official residence in London. Starmer expressed “his unwavering support for Ukraine,” according to an official readout of the meeting from Downing Street.

The two leaders signed an agreement to accelerate $2.8 billion worth of loans to Ukraine – to be paid off by frozen sovereign Russian assets. Zelensky said the funds would go toward the production of weapons in Ukraine, and added that he and Starmer spoke about “reliable security guarantees.”

Zelensky also announced that King Charles had accepted an invitation to meet on Sunday.

Zelensky’s UK trip comes ahead of a summit of European leaders on Sunday, which was announced amid growing concern that the Trump administration’s push to work with Russia could exclude Ukraine from deciding its own fate.

Just last week, Trump wrongly accused Ukraine of starting the war with Russia and called Zelensky a “dictator.” The week before, he said that Ukraine “may be Russian someday” when discussing what has now become the minerals agreement.

Russian officials reacted with glee to Friday’s fractious meeting. Dmitry Medvedev, the former Russian president, said Zelensky had “finally got a proper slap down in the Oval Office.”

Meanwhile, a flurry of Western countries took to X to show their staunch support for Kyiv.

A joint statement by the leaders of the European Union, said that Zelensky’s “dignity honors the bravery of the Ukrainian people.”

NATO chief Mark Rutte called the fractious Zelensky-Trump meeting “very unfortunate.” In an interview with BBC News, Rutte added that “it is important that President Zelensky finds a way to restore his relationship with the American president and with the senior American leadership team.”

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Zelensky says diplomacy for peace will include America

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky reaffirmed the significance of American support for his country, just days after an unprecedented clash at the Oval Office.

In a video message on X, Mr Zelensky showed gratitude for US military and financial assistance in Kyiv’s war against Russia while underscoring that his country’s resilience depended on its allies.

"There will be diplomacy for the sake of peace. And for the sake of us all being together – Ukraine, all of Europe and definitely, definitely America," Mr Zelensky said in his nightly address after meeting with UK and European leaders on Sunday.

The statement came just two days after the heated encounter at the White House where US president Donald Trump and vice president JD Vance criticised him for not being sufficiently appreciative of US assistance.

"There hasn’t been a single day when we haven’t felt grateful," Mr Zelensky said after participating in an emergency security summit with Western leaders in London.

“Because this is gratitude for the preservation of our independence: our resilience in Ukraine is built upon what our partners do for us and for their own security.”

The summit, hosted by British prime minister Keir Starmer, brought together 18 leaders, including Emmanuel Macron of France, Justin Trudeau of Canada, and Giorgia Meloni of Italy.

The discussions centered on securing long-term stability for Ukraine in the backdrop of Washington talking with Moscow to find a solution to the three-year conflict.

“Everyone is united on the main issue – for peace to be real, we need real security guarantees," Mr Zelensky said. "And this is the position of all of Europe – the entire continent, the United Kingdom, the European Union, and Turkey."

Amid growing international divisions over how to end the war, Mr Zelensky maintained that Kyiv wanted peace but not at the cost of sovereignty.

“We need peace, not endless war,” he said. “And that is why we say that security guarantees are the key to this.”

Several European leaders earlier pledged to formulate a peace plan for Ukraine, aiming to present it to the US in a bid to secure essential security guarantees. The commitment emerged from the London summit where Sir Keir underscored the urgency of a coordinated approach. "This isn’t a moment for more talk. It’s time to act, to step up and lead, and to unite around a new plan for a just and enduring peace," the prime minister said.

The meeting came as European countries sought to demonstrate that they could bolster Ukraine’s defences while ensuring US involvement in any lasting resolution.

Mr Macron told Le Figaro ahead of the summit that the proposed peace plan could include a one-month ceasefire limited to air and sea attacks, though ground combat would continue. He suggested a potential deployment of European troops should a more comprehensive agreement be reached. However, it remained unclear whether other nations had endorsed this proposal.

Ukraine maintained that any peace deal must not involve territorial concessions to Russia. Mr Zelensky reiterated this position after the summit, saying Kyiv wouldn’t entertain negotiations that required ceding land.

He also hinted at possible economic cooperation with the US, including a mineral deal that Mr Trump had been pushing Kyiv to sign until the White House fiasco.

The push for European-led diplomacy followed concerns that Kyiv could be sidelined in broader negotiations after Mr Trump’s unanticipated outreach to Russian president Vladimir Putin and his decision to exclude Ukraine from discussions held in Saudi Arabia.

European leaders were reported to fear that Washington could attempt to impose a settlement favourable to Moscow, undermining Ukraine’s security.

Mr Starmer and other European leaders were said to believe that increasing defence spending could be key to persuading Mr Trump to commit to a long-term security arrangement for Ukraine.

"After a long period of underinvestment, it’s now of utmost importance to step up defence spending for an extended period," European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said.

She stressed the need to transform Ukraine into "a steel porcupine – indigestible for potential invaders."

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Zelensky and European allies cement cooperation after Trump row

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Monday he would work with Europe to set terms for a possible peace deal to present to the United States, after allies gathered in London pledged to spend more on security and assemble a coalition to defend any truce in Ukraine.

The weekend crisis talks, which brought together 18 allies, came at a delicate moment for war-battered Ukraine, facing uncertain US support and on the back foot against Russia's three-year invasion.

Days earlier, US President Donald Trump berated Zelensky in front of reporters at the White House, heightening fears he intends to force Kyiv into a peace deal that gives Russian President Vladimir Putin what he wants.

But European leaders closed ranks in support of Kyiv, with Zelensky saying afterwards the summit cemented their commitment to work towards peace.

"We need peace, not endless war," he said on Telegram.

"In the near future, all of us in Europe will shape our common positions -- the lines we must achieve and the lines we cannot compromise on," he added. "These positions will be presented to our partners in the United States."

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer likewise said that Britain, France "and others" would work with Ukraine on a plan to stop the fighting, which they would then put to Washington.

And French President Emmanuel Macron, flying back from the summit, told Le Figaro newspaper that France and Britain wanted to propose a partial one-month truce "in the air, at sea and on energy infrastructure".

Starmer and Macron have said they are prepared to deploy British and French troops to Ukraine to help preserve any truce.

With no guarantee of US involvement, "Europe must do the heavy lifting", Starmer said.

- One-month truce -

Macron told Le Figaro that a truce would not, initially at least, cover ground fighting.

The problem was that it would be very difficult to enforce given the size of the front line, he said.

Peacekeepers would be deployed at a later date, he said, adding: "There won't be European troops on Ukrainian soil in the coming weeks."

Macron also suggested that European countries should raise their defence spending to between 3.0 and 3.5 percent of GDP to respond to Washington's shifting priorities and Russia's militarisation.

While recently reinaugurated Trump has cast himself as a mediator between Putin and Zelensky, his approach has sidelined Kyiv and Europe while pursuing rapprochement with the Russian leader.

This shift was on full display at the Oval Office meeting with Zelensky, who Trump accused of not being grateful enough for US aid and not being "ready" for peace with Russia.

Starmer, who had met Trump just days earlier, insisted the United States was "not an unreliable ally". Any deal "must have strong US backing" to succeed, he said.

But after the leaders gathered on Sunday, European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen warned the continent urgently had to rearm to "prepare for the worst".

And Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk called for the United States and Europe to show Putin "that the West has no intention of capitulating before his blackmail and aggression".

On Sunday, Trump dismissed concerns over his closeness with Russia, saying the United States should worry "less" about Putin and more about domestic crime.

- 'Constructive' approach -

Trump's Republican party has largely fallen in line behind his pivot towards Moscow's narrative on the Ukraine war.

Top officials have suggested Zelensky should step down to ensure a peace deal.

"We need a leader that can deal with us, eventually deal with the Russians, and end this war," Mike Waltz, Trump's national security adviser, told CNN.

US House Speaker Mike Johnson said Zelensky either "needs to come to his senses and come back to the table in gratitude, or someone else needs to lead the country."

Zelensky has repeatedly suggested he would resign in exchange for NATO membership for Ukraine -- a goal scorned by Trump.

"If there is NATO and the war is over, it means I fulfilled my mission," Zelensky said Monday.

He also stressed the need to keep Washington onside, and signalled his readiness to sign a mineral deal coveted by Trump.

"I am ready to engage in any kind of constructive format in relations with the US," he said.

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