US military support for Ukraine falls on balance, and talks over the minerals trade collapsed after the tragic White House Summit, which warned Donald Trump that he was “gambling with World War I” and told the Ukrainian president to return “when he’s ready for peace.”
Zelenskyy left the White House early and a press conference announcing that the mineral trade has been cancelled after Trump gave Zelensky a dressing down, followed by an ambush led by Vice President JD Vance to crush the vulnerable relationship between the two leaders.
The US president on Friday won the Ukrainian president and discussed the controversial mineral resource trade that Trump said was the first step into a ceasefire deal he is trying to mediate between Russia and Ukraine.
However, Friday’s meeting regressed after Zelensky suggested that Vance, a skeptic of US support for Ukraine, should come to the country to see the destruction from the invasion, and that Russia was responsible for the continued fighting.
The meeting was scheduled to continue behind closed doors, but shortened after opening up hostilities in the oval office.
Soon after, Trump issued a statement suggesting that the two had not signed a mineral agreement.
“We feel our involvement has a great advantage for him in negotiations, so President Zelensky decided that if America were involved he was not ready for peace,” he said. “I don’t want any advantage, I want peace. He downplayed the United States in his precious oval office. He can come back when he is ready for peace.”
During the meeting’s public release, Trump and Vance berate Zelensky, and Vance accused him of running a “promotional tour,” and Trump told him: “You’re not in a really good position right now.”
At one point, he said, “Did you say ‘Thank you’ once?’ “I asked.
Picking up the theme he told Trump to Zelenkey, “Do you think it’s respectful to come to the elliptical offices of the United States and attack an administration that is trying to prevent the destruction of your country?”
Trump then brought the ultimate to Zelensky, saying that Ukraine must be “a trade or we’re out.” It suggested that the US could leave negotiations and cut off support for Kiev more than three years after Russia began its full-scale infringement.
“You shouldn’t tell us what we’re trying to feel. We’re trying to solve the problem,” Trump continued. “You’re not in a position to direct what we’re trying to feel. We feel so good… You don’t have a card with us now, you’re starting to have problems now.”
Trump also told Zelensky that “Putin went through a lot of hell with me.” “He wants to make a deal,” Trump said. “I don’t know if you can make a deal.”
At some point in the exchange, the Ukrainian ambassador in Washington appeared to hold her head in her hand.
“The problem is, I strengthened you to be a tough guy. He’s a tough guy without America and I don’t think your people are very brave,” Trump said. “But you either make a deal or we go out, and if we go out, you’ll fight it. I don’t think it’ll be pretty.”
Trump concluded the meeting by saying that Zelensky wasn’t “thank you” but “that’s not a good thing.”
“This is going to be a great TV,” he concluded.
Russian officials were happy to respond to the extraordinary scene, with Ukraine’s European allies expressing their support for Kiev.
Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said Zelensky got a “solid slap” from Trump for what he called “a brutal dressing in an oval office.”
Kaja Karas, Europe’s head of foreign policy, said Europe “makes them “continue to fight back on agriculture” as it strengthens its support for Ukraine. In an indirect responsibilities to Trump, she said: “Today, it has become clear that the free world needs a new leader. It is up to Europeans to take this challenge.”
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen praised Zelensky. “Your dignity honors the courage of the people of Ukrainians. She posted on X.
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Garh described the episode as “serious and discouraging,” saying, “It is very unreasonable that Trump is accusing Zelensky of denounceing gambling as World War III, and it is a statement that I will keep my distance.”
French President Emmanuel Macron told reporters: “Russia is the invaders and Ukraine is the people who were attacked. These are simple things, but they’re good to remember from time to time like this.”
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez wrote to X, who pledged 1 billion euros (about $1 billion) of aid during this week’s visit to Kiev:
After the meeting, Zelensky thanked Trump, Congress and the American people, saying, “Ukraine needs just peace and we work precisely for that.” He also canceled the scheduled public event on Friday.
Trump and Zelensky’s personal relationship has been tense since Trump’s previous administration, and he was fired each for putting pressure on Zelensky to investigate a business deal involving Ukrainian Joe Biden’s son Hunter (though he has not been found guilty but has not taken office).
However, Friday showed a true low point in relation to the public’s explosion as Ukraine is desperate for foreign military aid and international support amid shattering defenses from Russian invasions.
Zelensky arrived in Washington on Friday and claimed that after weeks of tense negotiations, the US pressured him to sign a contract to “repay 10 generations.”
Trump said he hopes the US will be repaid to provide military aid to Ukraine, but commentators suggested the deal would look like a shakedown of Ukraine’s most vulnerable moment.
The agreement provides a general framework for a co-investment fund that will generate revenue from the sale of graphite, lithium, rare earth metals, oil and gas Ukrainian deposits. But many of these resources are in areas close to the forefront, and rarely provide hundreds of millions of dollars the US says they want to regain military aid to Ukraine.
It also does not include any specific security guarantees Ukrainian officials have been seeking during negotiations since the deal was first proposed by Treasury Secretary Scott Becent during his visit to Kiev earlier this month.
During a meeting with British Prime Minister Kiel Starmer on Thursday, Trump had suggested that American workers had been sent to Ukraine’s natural resources.
“In that sense, it’s a very good thing because we have a lot of people working,” Trump said Thursday. “It’s a backstop. If we’re with a lot of workers and it has something to do with other things that our country needs, I think no one will play.”
New Yorker Susan Glasser described it as “the most shocking action that Trump and Vance have seen in an oval office: an ambush.”
Even if Zelensky arrives at the White House, Trump will try to physically control the Ukrainian leaders, telling reporters that Zelensky, who was wearing a black turtleneck, has been “all dressed up.” Zelenskyy had not appeared in public in suits since the full-scale Russian invasion three years ago, preferring to wear military style clothes instead. Trump has complained about the style of the Ukrainian leader’s dress.
Zelenskyy met with US lawmakers early on Friday. “A significant visit to the United States,” he wrote about his meeting with a bipartisan delegation from the US Senate. “Our discussion focuses on the importance of Ukraine’s continued military aid, related legislative initiatives, my meeting with President Trump, efforts to achieve fair and lasting peace, our vision to end the war, and the importance of robust security assurance.”
Earlier on Friday, the White House removed reporters from the Russian state communications agency Tass, saying the outlet was not on the approved media list for talks with Trump and Zelenskyy.
