Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's visit to the United States was a "failure" after US President Donald Trump publicly reprimanded him in a dramatic televised disagreement, Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated on Saturday.

On Friday, Zelensky and Trump met at the Oval Office where the two were supposed to have lunch and hold a joint press conference. However, Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance, on one side, and Zelensky, on the other, hurled sharp accusations at each other in front of reporters in the Oval Office. Then reporters were told to leave the space. 

After the Ukrainian delegation and the American administration were separated, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz asked the Ukrainians to leave the White House, leaving the fate of their joint minerals deal hanging. 

Zakharova, commenting on the events, said "The visit of the head of the neo-Nazi regime, V. Zelensky, to Washington on February 28 is a complete political and diplomatic failure of the Kiev regime." 

The spokeswoman slammed Zelensky for displaying "outrageously boorish behavior" in Washington, calling him "the most dangerous threat to the world community as an irresponsible warmonger." She further claimed that the Ukrainian leader was "obsessed" with prolonging the war while reaffirming that Russia's military objectives in Ukraine remained unchanged.  

Russian forces close in on Kupyansk, 7 km from city

Meanwhile, the Russian armed forces are making significant advances towards the city of Kupyansk in Ukraine's Kharkiv region, expanding their presence on the right bank of the Oskol River. According to Vitaly Ganchev, head of the Russian administration in the region, Russian troops are now approximately seven kilometers from Kupyansk.

"At the moment, the bridgehead on the right bank of the Oskol is being expanded, that is, it is literally a few kilometers to Kupyansk, about seven kilometers," Ganchev stated on Thursday.

This advance comes amid intensified Russian military operations in the Kupyansk sector, particularly around Dvorichna, as part of a broader strategy to encircle Ukrainian forces positioned on the east bank of the Oskol River. The Oskol River, once a key defensive line, is no longer functioning as a frontline as Ukrainian forces adjust their defensive formations.

Ukrainian losses reportedly amounted to over 180 military personnel, four armored combat vehicles, two pickups, and seven field artillery guns, including three of Western manufacture, Russian MoD claimed.

In addition, two electronic warfare stations and two ammunition depots were destroyed.

Russian forces are also pushing toward the Borova direction, aiming to secure strategic positions that could enable a future encirclement of Ukrainian troops. Heavy fighting continues near the town of Topoli as Russian units attempt to solidify their hold on recently gained territory.

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