During a meeting with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Donald Trump sharply criticized a reporter for posing what he deemed a ‘dumb question’.
The US President met with the Ukrainian leader on December 28, aiming to advance peace talks between Russia and Ukraine.
For several months, both nations have struggled to agree on terms for a lasting peace deal. Trump has actively sought to mediate a resolution between the two countries.
As Zelenskyy arrived at Mar-a-Lago for discussions, shortly after a Russian attack on Kyiv, Trump appeared irritated when a reporter inquired about possible terms of a deal.
During a press Q&A, a reporter asked if the US could offer security guarantees to Ukraine as part of a peace deal, a question that seemed to test Trump’s patience.
“What a dumb question,” the president remarked. “Nobody even knows what the security agreement is going to state.”
“There will be a security agreement,” Trump added. “It will be a strong agreement. And the European nations are very much involved in that.”
Trump snaps at a reporter: "What a dumb question. Nobody even knows what the security agreement is going to state." pic.twitter.com/t6Ij0fp2IX
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) December 28, 2025
The President’s reaction to what appeared to be a relevant query took many social media users by surprise, especially since security guarantees were part of Trump’s initial peace proposal.
Despite the terse exchange, the meeting seemed to have gone positively for both Zelenskyy and Trump. This followed Zelenskyy’s earlier optimistic Telegram post, stating that significant decisions could be made before the New Year.
However, he cautioned that solutions depended on ‘those who help Ukraine and on those who put pressure on Russia so that the Russians feel the consequences of their own aggression.’
Post-meeting, Trump shared updates on Truth Social, mentioning his discussion with Russian President Vladimir Putin about the negotiations.
This marked their first conversation since October, with both leaders describing the talk as ‘productive’.
Peace negotiations have reached a stalemate recently, with Russia reluctant to compromise on many demands. Putin, in particular, has refused any deal that doesn’t grant him control over extensive areas in Eastern Ukraine.
Ukraine and its European allies find such demands unacceptable and are working to find a more reasonable compromise.
Before the meeting, Zelenskyy reportedly spoke with British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer about the forthcoming talks.
He mentioned on X that they ‘discussed preparations for the meeting with President Trump, as well as all our contacts with European partners.’
“I informed him on the situation on the frontline and on the consequences of Russian strikes.”
European leaders have insisted that any peace agreement must ensure Ukraine’s security and not reward Russia for initiating the nearly four-year-long conflict.