Trump abandons Zelensky, recommends Ukraine should 'Compromise' for a Russia truce
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky met with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House today, where they discussed a minerals deal and the possibility of a Russia truce.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House today, where discussions centered on a minerals deal and the potential for a truce between Ukraine and Russia.
This meeting follows rising tensions between the two leaders, with Trump previously labeling Zelensky a "dictator" and blaming him for initiating the war with Russia. However, Trump retracted his comments just before the meeting, praising Zelensky's bravery and reaffirming support for Ukraine.
Ukrainian President met Donald Trump at the White House
What was intended to be a celebratory visit to the White House by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to mark the signing of a mineral rights deal between the United States and Ukraine turned into a heated argument in the Oval Office. The confrontation involved Zelenskyy, President Donald Trump, and Vice President JD Vance.
The tension erupted on Friday when the American vice president began reprimanding Zelensky, accusing him of not expressing enough gratitude for the U.S. aid provided to help Ukraine in its fight against Russia's invasion.
During the talks, President Zelensky emphasized that there should be “no compromises with a killer on our territory,” referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin. However, President Trump firmly stated that Ukraine will need to make compromises for a Russia truce.
Before the meeting began, Zelensky expressed that he believed Trump was "on our side," highlighting that the U.S. protecting Ukraine from Russian threats was vital for peace. Trump mentioned that a truce with Russia was "fairly close" and called the minerals deal allowing U.S. access to Ukraine’s resources "very fair."
The minerals deal between Ukraine and the U.S.
The primary focus of the meeting was the minerals deal that would give the United States access to rare-earth minerals and other critical resources from Ukraine. This deal would form the foundation of future peace talks and is seen as essential for both Ukraine’s recovery and U.S. interests in the region post-truce.
The United States, a major NATO security provider in Europe, has pressured other NATO members to contribute more to military and financial support for Ukraine. Trump has stated that without a fair contribution from Europe, he might consider withdrawing U.S. security commitments to the region.
In past comments, Trump has expressed that there is no benefit for the U.S. in staying involved in Ukraine, as Europe has already received guarantees for its spending. European leaders, with Zelensky’s approval, have suggested a minerals deal as a way for the U.S. to secure its investments, both in terms of security and post-war reconstruction of Ukraine. This deal is seen as crucial for ensuring that the U.S. stays committed to Ukraine's security.