US President Accuses Ukrainian Leader of Exploiting America’s Support, Cancels Rare Earth Deal Signing
Washington, D.C., March 1: Tensions erupted between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a highly anticipated Oval Office meeting on Friday, leading to the abrupt cancellation of their joint press conference and the shelving of a key mineral agreement.
Following the meeting, Trump took to Truth Social, accusing Zelenskyy of disrespecting America and being unwilling to negotiate peace.
"I have determined that President Zelenskyy is not ready for peace if America is involved because he feels our involvement gives him a big advantage in negotiations. 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," Trump wrote.
Tensions Boil Over in the Oval Office
Initially, the meeting started on a cordial note, with Trump even referring to Zelenskyy as a "great guy." However, things quickly turned hostile when Zelenskyy attempted to explain Russian President Vladimir Putin’s diplomatic failures to Vice President JD Vance.
Vance accused Zelenskyy of “litigating” in front of the media and criticized him for appearing in campaign photo-ops with Democrats in 2024. Trump raised his voice, calling Zelenskyy “disrespectful” and telling him he should be thanking the US. "You don’t have the cards. You are either going to make a deal or we’re out. And if we are out, you will fight it out—I don’t think it’s going to be pretty," Trump warned.
Rare Earth Deal Falls Apart Amid Fallout
The US and Ukraine had planned to sign a strategic mineral agreement aimed at investing in Ukraine’s rare-earth extraction industry, a sector crucial for technology and defense manufacturing. However, the deal was effectively shelved following the Oval Office showdown.
Shortly after Trump’s social media post, the White House press pool confirmed the cancellation of the scheduled joint press conference. A grim-faced Zelenskyy was seen leaving the West Wing two hours and 20 minutes after he arrived.
What’s Next?
With US-Ukraine relations now on shaky ground, it remains unclear whether the two leaders will attempt to mend ties or if Washington’s support for Kyiv will take a significant hit following this high-profile diplomatic breakdown.
Tags:
Trump vs Zelenskyy, US-Ukraine Relations, Oval Office Clash, Rare Earth Deal, JD Vance, White House Tensions, Russia-Ukraine War, Peace Talks, Foreign Policy, Washington Diplomacy
Last Updated on March 1, 2025 by Sandeep
