NATO chief issues warning to President Zelenskyy after Trump accused him of 'gambling with World War 3'

A meeting between President Zelenskyy and Donald Trump earlier this week didn't go very well.

On Friday (February 28), the Ukrainian president jetted to Washington DC to meet with President Trump and his vice-president JD Vance.

Trump has invited several heads of state to the White House in recent weeks, including UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and France's Emmanuel Macron.

While these meetings seem to go reasonably well, the same can't be said for Zelenskyy and Trump's conversation, where the 78-year-old accused Zelenskyy of 'gambling with World War 3' amid the country's ongoing war with Russia.

"You don't have the cards right now," Trump said to the Ukrainian. "With us, you start having cards ... You're gambling with the lives of millions of people! You're gambling with World War 3! You're gambling with World War 3. And what you're doing is very disrespectful to the country — this country."

See their heated discussion here:

In light of their chaotic meeting, Mark Rutte, NATO secretary general, has weighed in on the matter and labeled the whole thing 'unfortunate'.

The head of the military alliance said he was sure Trump was 'committed to bring Ukraine to a durable peace' and committed to NATO.

Rutte also urged Zelenskyy to restore his relationship with the US president.

Speaking of a phone call he had with the Ukrainian leader on Friday, he said: "What I told to President Zelenskyy is that I said, I think you have to find a way, dear Volodymyr, to restore your relationship with Donald Trump and the American administration.

"That is important going forward."

NATO secretary general Mark Rutte has urged Zelenskyy to make amends with Trump (Johannes Simon/Getty Images)

Zelenskky is currently in the UK, where he received a warm welcome from Starmer, who assured him that he has 'have full backing across the United Kingdom'.

"Let me just say that you’re very, very welcome here in Downing Street," he told the Ukrainian President who has now been at war with Russia for three years.

Starmer went on: "That is the people of the United Kingdom coming out to demonstrate how much they support you, how much they support Ukraine, and our absolute determination to stand with you – unwavering determination – and to achieve what we both want to achieve, which is a lasting peace."

Zelenskyy met with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer yesterday (PETER NICHOLLS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

"A lasting peace for Ukraine based on sovereignty and security for Ukraine – so important for Ukraine, so important for Europe and so important for the United Kingdom," the British prime minster added.

Zelenskyy is reportedly set to meet with King Charles today (March 2), during his visit to England.