A highly anticipated White House meeting on a Ukraine rare earth minerals deal turned confrontational Friday when President Trump and Vice President Vance clashed with President Zelensky, leaving the deal unsigned.
The meeting exposed rifts between the two nations, with Zelensky arguing that the U.S. was emotionally removed from the war due to geographical distance. At the same time, Vance accused him of ingratitude and disrespecting U.S. efforts to prevent Ukraine’s destruction.
Sources indicated that tensions escalated before the meeting. Zelensky sought assurances of protection against a further Russian invasion and was unwilling to sign the mineral deal without such guarantees. This refusal frustrated both Trump and Vance.
Following the meeting, Trump told Zelensky to leave the White House, releasing a statement saying, “He disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office. He can come back when he is ready for Peace.”