U.S. stocks are unfazed by the intense confrontation between Trump and Zelensky, traders focus on the prospects of peace between Russia and Ukraine

According to Zhitong Finance APP, U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had a heated confrontation in the Oval Office on Friday, with Trump even warning that Ukraine was "gambling on World War III." However, the U.S. stock market reacted mildly to the event, with the market more focused on the possibility of peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.

Although the stock market briefly fell after the news broke and Wall Street's "fear index" spiked, the market quickly rebounded. Keith Lerner, co-chief investment officer at Truist Advisory Services, stated that the market seemed to view Trump's remarks as political "drama" and did not change investors' views that there is still hope for peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. Lerner said, "Whether this judgment is right or wrong, the movements of the U.S. and European stock markets indicate that the market still believes some sort of agreement will ultimately be reached."

The meeting between Trump and Zelensky was originally intended to deepen U.S.-Ukraine mineral trade and promote the Russia-Ukraine peace process, but it ended prematurely due to the emotional outbursts from both sides, even causing a brief market fluctuation. However, during the afternoon trading session, the stock market overall rebounded as investors gradually digested the unexpected conflict.

According to informed sources, after the public argument between Trump and Zelensky, Trump and his senior advisors held an emergency discussion in the Oval Office and ultimately decided to have Zelensky leave the White House. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian delegation waited in another room for nearly an hour, hoping to continue advancing mineral trade and salvage the visit.

However, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz then approached Zelensky and directly informed him to leave the White House. Thus, the visit abruptly ended without any agreements being reached, nor was there any clear commitment regarding continued U.S. support for Ukraine.

Trump later posted on the social platform Truth Social, stating that Zelensky "showed disrespect in the sacred Oval Office of the United States" and said, "Come back when he is ready to talk about peace."

Informed officials emphasized that this conflict was not a "premeditated ambush" by Trump. "Our plan was to sign a mineral agreement, establish an economic partnership, and promote the peace process." However, Vice President Vance, while responding to reporters' questions during the meeting, stated that diplomatic negotiations with Russia were the only way to achieve peace, which sparked strong dissatisfaction from Zelensky. Zelensky angrily responded, emphasizing that Putin had repeatedly violated agreements and questioned Vance, "What exactly do you mean by diplomacy?"

This argument dramatically deteriorated the atmosphere of the meeting, with both Trump and Vance accusing Zelensky of disrespecting the United States, while Zelensky repeatedly attempted to interrupt their speeches. In the heated exchange, Trump even stated that Zelensky was "gambling on World War III."

After the meeting broke down, U.S. allies quickly expressed support for Zelensky, while Democratic lawmakers condemned Trump for "bullying" the wartime president of Ukraine. However, Trump's advisory team blamed Zelensky, believing he could have defused the situation but failed to seize the opportunity. "He could have simply acknowledged the vice president's point and continued the meeting, but he couldn't do that," a White House official stated This conflict could have serious consequences for Ukraine. Zelensky has repeatedly acknowledged that the Ukrainian military is highly dependent on further assistance from the United States, which is currently still full of uncertainty. Trump emphasized during discussions that without U.S. support, Ukraine would have little influence on the course of the war.

In addition to the diplomatic conflict, Trump also expressed clear dissatisfaction with Zelensky's attire. According to two insiders, Trump's team had repeatedly suggested that Zelensky forgo military uniform during his visit to the White House as a sign of respect. Although Zelensky wore a more formal black outfit this time, adorned with the Ukrainian national emblem, he still did not wear a suit.

When Trump shook hands with Zelensky at the White House entrance, he specifically commented, "He is dressed quite formally today." But evidently, this still did not meet Trump's expected standards.

Analysts point out that the conflict between Trump and Zelensky may mark a significant turning point in U.S. policy towards Ukraine. A senior U.S. official revealed that the U.S. is dissatisfied with Ukraine's inconsistent stance on mineral transactions. "The Ukrainians have been evasive on this deal, and this meeting has become a critical turning point," the official stated. "The era of Washington's 'blank check' for Zelensky is over, and he himself is unaware of it."

On the Ukrainian side, there is anger over Trump's attempt to force through an agreement that is "heavily biased towards U.S. interests," believing that the U.S. has excluded Ukraine from discussions about its future with Russia. After leaving the White House, Zelensky canceled the next two public events and posted a brief statement on social media platform X, thanking the American people, Congress, and Trump for their support