‘A spectacle to horrify the world’: what the papers say about Trump and Vance’s meeting with Zelenskyy

The unprecedented scenes in the Oval Office dominated the front pages on Saturday, with the papers united in their horror. Adjectives including disastrous and vile were used to describe the meeting in which Donald Trump and his vice-president JD Vance openly berated the Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The Guardian leads with a quote from Donald Trump: “You are gambling with world war three”, characterising the meeting between the US and Ukrainian presidents as “disastrous”. In a separate sketch of the furious row, David Smith wrote that “Trump on Friday presided over one of the greatest diplomatic disasters in modern history.”

The Guardian front page, Saturday 1 March 2025 Composite: The Guardian

The Daily Mail called the meeting “A spectacle to horrify the world” and said that during the “shouting match in the Oval Office” a “raging Trump humiliates Zelensky on live TV”.

The Daily Mail front page, Saturday 1 March 2025 Composite: Daily Mail

The Daily Mirror went for “Shock & War” as its front page headline, with subheads reading “Trump stuns the world with vile rant at Zelensky” and “Ukraine hero forced home without a deal.”

Daily Mirror front page, Saturday 1 March 2025 Composite: Daily Mirror

The Daily Telegraph summed up Trump and Vance’s approach to the Ukrainian president on its front page: “Make a deal or we’re out”. The paper said that during a “shouting match” at the White House, Trump had told Zelenskyy to “come back when you’re ready for peace”.

The Daily Telegraph front page, Saturday 1 March 2025 Composite: Daily Telegraph

The Financial Times headlined with “Zelenskyy’s White House talks break down in blaze of acrimony”, saying the minerals deal proposed by Trump had been left unsigned.

Financial Times front page, Saturday 1 March 2025 Composite: Financial Times

The Times characterised the evening as a “Meltdown in the Oval Office” and also highlighted Trump’s comment that Zelenskyy was “risking world war three”. On its front page were four photos from the meeting. The first three show the presidents arguing, the final one showing Trump and Zelenskyy looking away from each other.

The Times front page, Saturday 1 March 2025 Composite: The Times

The Express led on “Bust-up leaves Trump’s peace talks in crisis”. The lead story began: “hopes of a Ukraine peace deal were in tatters”.

Daily Express front page, Saturday 1 March 2025 Composite: Daily Express

The Sun declared “Ukraine hero ambushed” above the splash headline “The Fight House”, alongside a picture of Trump wagging his finger at Zelenskyy.