A Diplomatic Clash
On Friday, February 28, Zelensky arrived at the White House to meet with the U.S. president. The meeting was expected to result in an agreement regarding Ukrainian minerals and the end of the war.
Setting the tone for the upcoming discussion, Donald Trump greeted the Ukrainian president with an ironic remark about his outfit: « You’re all dressed up today ». Their meeting in the Oval Office, covered by the press, quickly turned into a diplomatic clash. While American officials described the encounter as a “disaster”, Europeans perceived it as a public humiliation attempt.
A Controversial Exchange
During the meeting, Zelensky insisted that no compromises should be made with Vladimir Putin, whom he called a killer (« He killed people »). Shortly after, tensions escalated.
Facing him, Donald Trump was extremely offensive:
- « You’re either going to make a deal or we’re out. »
- “You’re playing cards. You’re gambling with the lives of millions of people. You’re gambling with World War III.”
- He also accused Zelensky of putting himself in « a very bad position » and claimed that the Ukrainian president does not « have the cards right now. » after three years of war. “With us, you start having cards.” (Zelenskyy: “I’m not playing cards. I’m very serious, Mr. President. I’m very serious.”)
His vice president, JD Vance, echoed these accusations:
- “What you’re doing is very disrespectful to the country”.
- “Just say thank you. (…) You have to be thankful.” (Zelenskyy: “I said a lot of times, thank you, to American people.”)
Zelensky Left the White House Without a Deal
After the public confrontation, the Ukrainian president left the White House (at Trump’s request). The joint press conference planned for later that day, where the agreement on Ukrainian minerals was supposed to be signed, was also canceled.
After the meeting, Trump stated on his social network, Truth Social, that Zelensky « can come back when he is ready for Peace. »
Zelensky, for his part, thanked the U.S. on X for hosting him and adding: “Ukraine needs just and lasting peace, and we are working exactly for that.”
Ukraine « Should Apologize »
Following the meeting, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a CNN interview that Zelensky should “apologize for turning this thing into the fiasco for him that it became”.
In response, the Ukrainian president told Fox News that he does not owe them an apology but stated that he is very thankful “to Americans for all your support. You did a lot. I’m thankful to President Trump and to Congress”. He added that he was “very open and very honest” in their discussions and “We want peace. That’s why I’m in the United States”.
A Relationship That Can Be Repaired
In the same interview, Zelensky said that his relationship with Donald Trump can “of course” be salvaged. He also expressed his wish that the U.S. president « stand more firmly on our side » against Russia in negotiations to end the conflict.
The Troubling Presence of a Russian Journalist at the White House
Another troubling fact: CNN reported the presence of a journalist from TASS, Russia’s state news agency, in the press pool covering the meeting—while the Associated Press (AP) and Reuters had been excluded.
According to the White House, “the journalist was not authorized to be in the press pool”, but this statement raises questions. How could an unauthorized person pass the White House’s strict security checks?
The Mineral Agreement
Despite past criticisms, Trump had claimed to have a « very good relationship » with Zelensky. The two leaders had even considered an agreement granting the U.S. access to Ukraine’s natural resources, including rare-earth elements. In October, the Ukrainian president had raised the possibility of such a deal in exchange for security guarantees while presenting his “Victory Plan”.
This mineral agreement was, according to Trump, meant to allow Ukraine to “repay” the aid provided by the U.S. since the war began. However, the terms initially proposed by Washington were unacceptable to Kyiv.
Indeed, Trump demanded a $500 billion repayment through mining exploitation. It far exceeded the actual amount of U.S. aid for Ukraine since the beginning of the war of around $120 billion, according to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel). Moreover, this aid had mostly been granted as donations under Joe Biden’s administration.
Zelensky: “Ukraine is not for sale”
Zelensky rejected this initial version, refusing to sign a deal that would be repaid by “ten generations of Ukrainians.” “Ukraine is not for sale”, he declared. However, he admitted that Ukraine might be forced to sign an economic agreement with the U.S. if it ensured continued support.
In the revised version of the agreement, which was supposed to be signed on Friday, the $500 billion clause was removed. Instead, the document proposed the creation of a joint fund, managed by both Ukraine and the U.S., where mining revenues would be equally shared between the two nations.
However, the details of this agreement remained vague, particularly regarding security guarantees—one of Ukraine’s key conditions for signing the deal. In other words, Ukraine want U.S. political and military deterrence to prevent another Russian invasion. This issue was supposed to be negotiated on Friday.
Without U.S. Support, Winning the War Is Difficult
In reality, Ukraine has no choice but to accept this unequal deal if it wants to continue relying on U.S. support. In an interview with Fox News, Zelensky admitted that it would be « difficult » for Ukraine to win the war without American aid. However, he also insisted, « We can’t lose our values, our people, our freedom » and that Ukraine does « not want to lose » American support.
Reactions from Ukrainian Dissidents
The meeting sparked numerous reactions, particularly among Ukrainian dissidents. In Washington, while Democrats were “in shock”, Republicans welcomed Trump’s criticisms. Republican Senator Jim Justice said on X that he was “Glad to have a (president) and (vice president) in charge that absolutely put America FIRST”.
In Russia, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Trump displayed « miracle of restraint » toward the « scumbag » Zelensky. Dmitry Medvedev, Russia’s Security Council vice chairman, stated: « For the first time, Trump told the truth to the cocaine clown’s face ».
Global Support for Ukraine
In America, Democrats broke away from Trump administration. « Trump and Vance are doing Putin’s dirty work », said Democratic Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer.
Ukraine’s Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal supported its president: « Peace without guarantees is not possible. »
Additionally, many countries reaffirmed their support for Ukraine following the meeting. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese declared: “We stand unequivocally with Ukraine in their struggle, because we regard that as a struggle for the upholding of international law”.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau showed support. He said that Canada would “continue to stand with Ukraine.” “Russia illegally and unjustifiably invaded Ukraine. For three years now, Ukrainians have fought with courage and resilience. Their fight for democracy, freedom, and sovereignty is a fight that matters to us all”.
In Europe, support was also strong. French President Emmanuel Macron called for « respect for those who have been fighting from the start », emphasizing that there was only « one aggressor: Russia ».
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez stated: « Ukraine, Spain stands with you. »
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also voiced her support: « Your dignity honors the bravery of the Ukrainian people. Be strong, be courageous, do not be afraid. You are never alone, dear President. »
A European Summit for Ukraine
This Sunday, European leaders met in London for a special summit on European and Ukrainian security. Around 15 leaders attended alongside Zelensky.
Moreover, on Thursday, March 6, the 27 UE head of states will meet in Brussels. They will discuss strengthening European defense and the new military budget for Ukraine.
Then the coming days will reveal the geopolitical consequences of this diplomatic crisis, especially in Europe…
A Context of High Tensions Between the U.S. and Ukraine
Zelensky Ready to Step Down in Exchange for Ukraine’s NATO Membership
On February 23, on the eve of the third anniversary of the Russian invasion, a press conference was held. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that he was willing to step down in exchange for his country’s NATO membership. The United States opposed to it.
According to Washington, such a move would make any truce or peace deal with Russia impossible, as Moscow considers NATO expansion a « red line. »
Accused of Being a ‘Dictator Without Elections’
Tensions between Washington and Kyiv have risen since Trump’s election. The U.S. president previously called Zelensky a “dictator” after Ukraine canceled its March 2024 presidential elections. This cancellation was in accordance with martial law, which has been in effect since the beginning of the war, preventing elections from being held under such circumstances.
« I certainly wouldn’t describe Trump’s words as a compliment. Someone would be offended by the word dictator only if they were a dictator. (…) I am a legitimately elected president, » he added, assuring that he does not intend to remain « in power for decades. »
(Volodymyr Zelensky, President of Ukraine)
The European Union reaffirmed its support for the Ukrainian president following these accusations.
Donald Trump later attempted to downplay his comments, saying: « Did I say that? (…) I can’t believe I said that. Next question » while insisting he has « a lot of respect » for Volodymyr Zelensky.
Negotiations Between USA and Russia, But Without Ukraine
Amid ongoing tensions, negotiations between the United States and Russia, regarding the terms of ending the war, took place without Ukraine’s participation. This exclusion has raised concerns among European allies.
Reacting to the situation, Stefan de Keersmaecker, Deputy Spokesperson for the European Commission, stated: « There can be no solution for Ukraine without the involvement of Ukraine, nor without the involvement of the European Union. Ukraine’s security is the European Union’s security”.
