During his visit to the US on February 28, President Zelensky is expected to sign an agreement allowing the US more access to rare earth minerals from Ukraine and hold a joint press conference. However, this plan was canceled after a tense confrontation between the two leaders in front of the media.
President Donald Trump criticized President Volodymyr Zelensky for "lacking respect" at a meeting at the Oil Department, which later overturned the signing of the rare earth mineral deal.
The Ukrainian leader left the White House shortly after the public controversy broke out. The White House also said that the Ukrainian delegation had been asked to leave.
"He is betting on the Third World War and what he is doing is very disrespectful to the country. This country has supported him a lot," Trump told Zelensky.
The AP said that the last 10 minutes of the nearly 45-minute meeting became a heated debate between President Trump, US Vice President JD Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
According to the US press, during the debate, Mr. Zelensky noted that the Russian side had violated the ceasefire and other agreements 25 times. Meanwhile, Trump has denied the claim and avoided questions about providing security guarantees to Ukraine. Mr. Trump also said that the rare earth mineral agreement signed by the US with Ukraine will take effect to end the conflict.
The tension became fierce after the Vice President of JD Vance told President Zelensky: Mr. President, with all respect, I think it is disrespectful for you to come to the Department of Education to defend this issue in front of the US media.
Mr Zelensky tried to protest, making Mr Trump speak more loudly, saying: "You are betting on the lives of millions of people". During the debate, Trump said he was in the middle and did not side with Ukraine or Russia in the conflict.
After the developments at the Oval Office, Mr. Trump left the White House to go to Mar-a-Lago resort in South Florida for a weekend break. Speaking to reporters before leaving, Trump expressed his desire for an "immediate ceasefire" between Russia and Ukraine, but said Zelensky was not ready for peace.
Trump also posted on his social media page that it had been determined after the meeting that Zelensky was "not ready for peace". He showed disrespect for the United States right at the Department of Labor. He can return when he is ready for peace," Trump wrote.
International media said that this unexpected development could disrupt the situation in Europe and globally. It is not yet clear how the heated debate between the two leaders will affect the rare earth mineral deal that Mr. Trump affirmed is necessary to return to the US the more than 180 billion USD in aid sent to Ukraine since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Reuters reported that US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky did not sign any mineral agreement on February 28. A senior US official said Trump did not rule out reaching a deal, but must wait until Ukraine is ready for a constructive dialogue.
