WASHINGTON — President Trump told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that he was “gambling with World War III” during a fiery Oval Office exchange Friday — before canceling a press conference and declaring that the wartime leader was “not ready for peace” with Russia.

The high-stakes visit — initially expected to include the signing of a framework deal giving the US a stake in Ukraine’s rare-earth elements — went off the rails when Zelensky appeared to condescend Vice President JD Vance after a cordial first 45 minutes.

The spark came seemingly out of nowhere after Zelensky kicked off the visit by gifting Trump the belt of heavyweight boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk and showing him images of Ukrainian civilians before and after their captivity by Russian forces. 

Trump even defended Zelensky against a right-wing media personality who criticized Kyiv’s chief executive for wearing a military sweatshirt rather than a suit.

The conversation soured abruptly when Vance criticized former President Joe Biden’s leadership during the three-year war and said that “the path to peace and the path to prosperity is maybe engaging in diplomacy.”

Although the VP’s remark did not require him to comment, Zelensky responded by rattling off instances of Russia reneging on treaties and agreements before concluding with the question: “What kind of diplomacy, JD, you are [sic] speaking about?”

Vance responded that it was “disrespectful for you to come into the Oval Office to try to litigate this in front of the American media” — setting off a shouting match among the men, which a US official involved in setting up the visit said was entirely unplanned.

A different US official said the harsh words that followed prompted Trump to show Zelensky the door before the mining pact could be signed.

“Right now, you guys are going around and forcing conscripts to the front lines because you have manpower problems, you should be thanking the president for wanting to bring an end to the conflict,” Vance said.

“Have you ever been to Ukraine? Have you seen the problems we have? Come once,” Zelensky countered, adding that Vance “will feel” things.

Vance fired back that Ukraine was bringing Americans on a “propaganda tour,” while Trump warned his Kyiv counterpart: “Don’t tell us what we’re going to feel.”

“We’re trying to solve a problem. Don’t tell us what we’re going to feel,” Trump reprimanded.

“You are in no position to dictate what we’re going to feel. We’re going to feel very good. We’re going to feel very good and very strong. You’re right now not in a very good position. You’ve allowed yourself to be in a very bad position…

“You’re gambling with World War III. And what you’re doing is very disrespectful to the country, this country that’s backed you far more than a lot of people say they should.”

“Have you said thank you once?” Vance pressed.

“You went to Pennsylvania and campaigned for the opposition in October. Offer some words of appreciation for the United States of America and the president who’s trying to save your country.”

After Zelensky accused Vance of speaking “very loudly,” Trump cut in again.

“He’s not speaking loudly. Your country is in big trouble,” the president said, telling Zelensky “no, no, you’ve done a lot of talking” as he tried to interject. 

“Your country is in big trouble. You’re not winning, you’re not winning this. You have a damn good chance of coming out OK because of us.”

As Zelensky again attempted to interrupt, Trump raged on.

“We gave you, through this stupid president [Joe Biden], $350 billion. We gave you military equipment… If you didn’t have our military equipment, this war would have been over in two weeks.”

“You have to be thankful,” Trump went on, telling Zelensky: “You don’t have the cards.

“Your people are dying. You’re running low on soldiers. Listen, you’re running low on soldiers … Then you tell us, ‘I don’t want a cease-fire. I don’t want a cease-fire.’”

Trump added, “It’ll be a tough deal to make, because the attitudes have to change.”

“You’re either going to make a deal or we’re out, and if we’re out, you’ll fight it out. I don’t think it’s going to be pretty,” Trump concluded before asking reporters to leave, saying “this is going to be great television, I will say that.”

Almost an hour after the press pool left the Oval Office, the leader of the free world declared that Zelensky’s visit was over.

“It’s amazing what comes out through emotion, and I have determined that President Zelenskyy [sic] is not ready for Peace if America is involved, because he feels our involvement gives him a big advantage in negotiations,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

“I don’t want advantage, I want PEACE. He disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office. He can come back when he is ready for Peace.”

Zelensky hustled out of the West Wing and into a waiting car two hours and 20 minutes after he arrived, with the administration’s admonition ringing in his ears. 

Forty minutes after his departure, Zelensky posted a conciliatory tweet on X: “Thank you America, thank you for your support, thank you for this visit. Thank you @POTUS, Congress, and the American people. Ukraine needs just and lasting peace, and we are working exactly for that.”

Trump revisited the spat as he left the White House for Mar-a-Lago Friday night, telling reporters that Zelensky “very much overplayed his hand.”

“I’m looking for peace. We’re not looking to go into a 10-year war and play games. We want peace,” the president explained. “[Zelensky is] looking for something that I’m not looking for. He’s looking to go on and fight, fight, fight. We’re looking to end the death.”

Asked if he wanted Zelensky to be removed from office, Trump answered: “I want anybody that’s going to make peace. If he’s capable of making peace — which he may or may not be, but I want somebody who’s going to make peace. Again, he doesn’t have the cards. When we signed up, he’s got all of the cards. That doesn’t mean he can fight. He’s got to stop the fighting, stop the death.”

“I want a cease-fire now,” Trump concluded. “He says, ‘oh, I don’t want a cease-fire.’ Well, all of a sudden he’s a bigshot because he has the US on his side. Either we’re going to end it or let him fight it out, and if he fights it out, it’s not going to be pretty. Because without us, he doesn’t win.”