The final ten minutes of nearly 45 minutes of engagement were left to tense tensions between Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance and Zelensky. He cited years of broken commitments at the global stage, seeking skepticism about Russia’s commitment to diplomacy.
It started with Vance telling Zelenskyy to Zelenskyy. President with respect. I think it would be rude to come to an oval office to try and litigate this in front of the American media. Zelenskyy tried to object, urging Trump to speak up and say, “You’re gambling with millions of people.” “You’re gambling with World War II. What you’re doing is very rude to this country that supports you, far more than many people say they should have,” Trump said.
It was an astonishing display of open antagonism in an oval office, and a well-known environment for its gloomy diplomacy. Trump has rooted out efforts to force Zelensky to agree to bring America to interest in his country’s precious minerals and to impose him on a diplomatic resolution against war with the terms of the American leader.
Military assistance
Earlier in the meeting, Trump said the US would continue to provide military aid to Ukraine, but he said he hopes aid won’t get too close. “We don’t look forward to sending a lot of weapons,” Trump said. “We look forward to the end of the war so that we can do other things,” Trump suggested that Zelensky is not in a position to demand concessions.
“You’re not in a good position. You don’t have a card right now,” Trump said, pointing his finger at Zelensky. “We’ll start holding cards with us,” he also accused Zelenskyy of “disrespectful” to the United States.
“It’s going to be very difficult to do business like this,” Trump told Zelensky at one point.
“Again, say thank you,” Vance attacks Zelensky and blows him up by lawsuiting “disagreements” in front of the press. But Trump suggested he was OK with the drama. “I think it’s good for Americans to see what’s going on,” he added.
From Trump to Zelensky: “You’re not grateful.”
“You’re not grateful at all,” Trump said, adding, “This is going to be a great TV.” The harsh words came at a moment of crucial importance and unstable for Ukraine. Zelenskyy had planned to try and persuade the White House to somehow support Ukraine’s security against future Russian invasions.
Zelenskyy was expected to sign a groundbreaking economic agreement with the United States aimed at funding the reconstruction of war-damaged Ukraine.
The deal is seen as a step towards ending a three-year war, and refers to the importance of Ukraine’s security. Early in the meeting, before his temper burned, Trump said the agreement would soon be signed in the Eastern Room of the White House.
“We have something that has very fair dealings,” Trump said. “It’s a huge commitment from the US,” he added. He said the US wants to see the killings in the war stopped, adding that Ukrainian US money should “be placed in different kinds of uses, like reconstruction.” Previously, Zelenki called Russian President Vladimir Putin a terrorist and told Trump that Ukraine and the world “there is no compromise with the murderer.” “Even during the war, there are rules,” he said.
The Center’s Ukrainian President Voldy Mee Zelensky will depart after a White House meeting in Washington on Friday, February 28, 2025. | Photo Credit: AP
As Ukrainian forces oppose the slow and steady progress made by Russia’s large, well-equipped troops, Kiev leaders pushed the potential peace plan mediating the US to include guarantees of the country’s future security.
Many Ukrainians fear that a hastily negotiated peace, especially one that makes too many concessions to Russia’s demands, will allow Moscow to arrange and integrate its forces for future invasions after the current hostilities have ended.
According to the Associated Press’ Preliminary Economic Agreement, the US and Ukraine will establish a jointly owned, co-managed investment fund that will contribute 50% of future revenues from natural resources, including minerals, hydrocarbons and other extractable materials.
Speaking about the Rare Earth Agreement, Trump said the US lacks many such minerals while Ukraine has the best on the planet. He said US interests are planning to receive these reserves and use them on everything from manipulation of artificial intelligence to military weapons.
Asked about long-term security guarantees to protect against future Russian invasions, Trump said when the agreement was signed that there was unlikely to be a return to combat.
Republican Trump has framed the emerging agreement as an opportunity to compensate the United States for wartime aid sent under his predecessor, Democrat Joe Biden.
Zelenskyy requires security guarantees
However, Zelenskyy remains firmly established that certain assurances for Ukrainian security must come with an agreement to provide access to Ukrainian resources.
This was Zelensky’s fifth visit to the White House, but the four before him came during the Biden administration. The Ukrainian president met with the US Senator during his time in Washington.
The fear that Trump could mediate a peace deal with Russia, which is disadvantaged by Ukraine, has been amplified by his administration’s actions that destroy recent precedents. Trump made a long phone call with Putin, and US officials met with Saudi Russian counterparts without inviting European or Ukrainian leaders.
Trump later appeared to be wrongly responsible for starting the war, and although Ukrainian law bans elections while martial law is in place, he called Zelensky a “dictator” because he didn’t hold elections after the end of his regular term last year.
