Posted on 02/28/25
| News Source: FOX News
Conversations about a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia came to a screeching halt Friday, after a tense meeting between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy led to a canceled press conference, a minerals deal off the table and Trump asking the Ukrainian president to leave, a White House official confirmed.
Trump accused Zelenskyy of "disrespecting" the U.S. during their Friday meeting, and said the Ukrainian leader was not ready to secure peace for his country.
"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," Trump said in a Truth Social post Friday. "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."
Zelenskyy visited Washington amid negotiations to end the war in Ukraine, and was expected to sign a minerals agreement that will allow the U.S. access to Ukraine’s minerals — in exchange for support the U.S. has provided the country since Russia's invasion in 2022.
But things took a turn south, and Trump and Vice President JD Vance accused Zelenskyy of not being grateful for the support the U.S. has provided over the years and said that the Ukrainian leader was in a "bad position" at the negotiating table.
"You're playing cards," Trump said. "You're gambling with the lives of millions of people. You're gambling with World War III. You're gambling with World War III. And what you're doing is very disrespectful to the country, this country."
After Vance told Zelenskyy that Ukraine was suffering from manpower and military recruiting problems, Zelenskyy said that war means "everybody has problems, even you" and that the U.S. would feel the war "in the future."
"Don't tell us what we're going to feel," Trump responded. "We're trying to solve a problem. Don't tell us what we're going to feel."
"You are in no position to dictate that, remember that," Trump said.
Vance and Zelenskyy also sparred when Vance questioned if Zelenskyy had ever said "thank you once this entire meeting," prompting Zelenskyy to assert that Vance was speaking "loudly."