On Friday, February 28th, President Trump, Vice President Pence, and visiting Ukrainian President Zelensky engaged in a heated debate at the Oval Office of the White House, ultimately failing to sign the scheduled US-Ukraine mining agreement. The White House confirmed that Trump and Zelensky did not sign any mineral agreement during the meeting.
A senior U.S. official told Reuters that Trump did not rule out the possibility of reaching an agreement, but only if Ukraine was ready for constructive dialogue. The meeting began in a friendly atmosphere around 11 a.m.
When a reporter asked about NATO allies’ concerns regarding Putin’s expansionist policies, Trump responded by saying that he stood with both Putin and Ukraine. He refused to speak ill of Putin as it would complicate negotiations. “I do not favor either side. I support the well-being of the United States and the world,” he said.
The meeting took a contentious turn when Vice President Pence mentioned negotiating with Russian President Putin for a diplomatic solution to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, sparking Zelensky’s immediate displeasure. Pence insisted that the U.S. has become a great nation due to its diplomatic efforts and reiterated Trump’s actions.
Zelensky expressed his dissatisfaction, pointing out that Putin had repeatedly violated previous agreements with other countries. This led to a heated exchange where Pence criticized Zelensky for what he saw as excessive PR and propaganda during his visit to the U.S.
Zelensky warned that the U.S. would eventually feel the impact of the Russia-Ukraine conflict due to geographical proximity, triggering Trump’s anger. Trump interrupted, emphasizing that Zelensky should be grateful and accusing him of risking the lives of millions.
As the argument escalated, Trump reiterated the importance of Zelensky showing gratitude. He pointed out the dwindling number of Ukrainian soldiers and emphasized that the U.S. had provided significant financial and military support, without which the war would have ended much sooner.
Zelensky expressed interest in a ceasefire but demanded a guaranteed agreement. Trump warned that the business would be difficult in such circumstances. Soon after, Zelensky was seen leaving the White House.
After the meeting, Trump took to his social media platform, Truth Social, to reflect on the discussions. He mentioned learning valuable lessons and expressed a desire for peace without seeking an advantage in negotiations. He criticized Zelensky for not respecting the U.S. position, suggesting that when he was ready for peace, he could return.
Following his departure from the White House, Zelensky thanked the U.S. on social media, expressing gratitude for the support and the arranged visit. He emphasized Ukraine’s need for a just and lasting peace and acknowledged the efforts being made towards that goal.