Conversations about a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia stopped Friday after a tense meeting between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Voldy Zelensky led to a cancelled press conference and a mineral contract from the table, White House officials confirmed.
Trump accused Zelensky of “disregarding” the United States during meeting Friday, saying Ukrainian leaders are not ready to ensure peace in their country.
“We feel our involvement gives him a great advantage in negotiations, so President Zelensky has decided that if America is involved, he is not ready for peace,” Trump told the Truth Social Post on Friday. “I don't want any advantage, I want peace. He downplayed the United States in his precious oval office. He can come back when he is ready for peace.”
Zelensky visited Washington amid negotiations to end the war in Ukraine and was expected to sign a mineral agreement that would allow the United States to access Ukrainian minerals.
But things went south, with Trump and Vice President JD Vance accusing Zelensky of not appreciating the support the United States has provided over the years, and saying Ukrainian leaders were in a “bad position” at the negotiation table.
“You're playing cards,” Trump said. “You're living and gambling for millions of people. You're gambling with World War II. You're gambling with World War II. And what you're doing is very rude to this country, to this country.”
Furthermore, when asked if Zelensky believed Trump was on the side of Ukraine, Zelensky told reporters in the oval office that he believed the United States was on the side of Ukraine and reiterated the importance of stopping the attack from Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Zelensky also emphasized the importance of European support in conflict with Russia. But Zelenskyy pushed back and said that it wasn't true.
Trump says that the trade in rare earth minerals in Ukraine will lead to a “sustainable” future between us, Ukraine
Ukrainian President Voldy Meezelensky visited the White House on Friday. (Efrem Lukatsky/AP)
The exact number of financial support for Ukraine varies slightly depending on what is considered aid. However, the Council of Foreign Relations said that since 2022, the Congress has allocated $175 billion to aid Ukraine.
Meanwhile, all European support for Ukraine from January 2022 to December 2024 was around $138.7 billion, with the US giving $119.7 billion over the same time frame, estimated by the German-based think tank Kiel Institute.
Tensions between Zelensky and Trump have been rising in recent weeks as the US has worked with Ukraine and Russia to advance peace talks. After US officials met with Russian officials in Saudi Arabia on February 18 without Ukraine, Zelensky told reporters “No one will decide anything behind our backs.”
Trump and Zelensky then traded the barbs for each other, and Zelensky accused him of moving forward with “disinformation” in Russia, and Trump labeled Zelensky as a “dictator” who failed his country.
Trump says the mineral trade will be negotiated with Zelensky and there will be a meet scheduled for Friday
British Prime Minister Kielstarme visited the White House on February 27, 2025 to discuss peace negotiations to end the war in Ukraine. (Curl coat/pool photo via AP)
On Thursday, Trump did not double that statement.
When asked if he was standing in his statement, he told reporters:
Trump also told reporters when he met with British Prime Minister Kiel Starmer on Thursday that peace talks were in the final stages, but he paid attention to sharing details about the region's peacekeeping forces until the deal is finalized.
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“I think we're very moving towards dealing,” Trump said. “But we haven't made a deal yet. So I don't like talking about peacekeeping until we do business. I want to get things done.”
Trump also said he does not expect Putin to violate the agreement to create peace with Ukraine.
“I don't think he's going to violate what he says,” Trump said Thursday. “I don't think he'll come back when we do a trade. I think the trade will be held now.”
