US Scraps Joint Presser and Lunch as Zelensky Departs White House

Negotiations between the United States and Ukraine regarding a deal on rare earth minerals appear to have fallen through following a tense discussion in the Oval Office on Friday. The exchange involved U.S. President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance on one side and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the other.

After the meeting, President Trump went on Truth Social to express his view, saying, "We had a very significant meeting in the White House today. Much was learned that could never be understood without discussion under such fire and pressure. It's incredible what comes out through emotion, and I have determined that President Zelensky is not ready for Peace if America is involved, because he feels our involvement gives him a big advantage in negotiations. I don't want advantage, I want PEACE. He disrespected the United States of America in its beloved Oval Office."

Trump also added, "He can come back when he is ready for Peace."

Soon after, Zelensky left the White House. It is not known if the deal was sealed, as a joint press conference that was to be addressed by both leaders was canceled. Also, a lunch to be hosted by American officials for the Ukrainian team was also canceled.

The mooted agreement was expected to provide the U.S. with access to Ukraine's rare earth minerals and other natural resources in return for its continued support of Kyiv's war campaign against Russia.

In the tense Oval Office conversation, Trump rudely informed Zelensky that he had "no cards" to negotiate and needed to be more appreciative. Vice President Vance also spoke up, saying the Ukrainian leader needs to show more respect to President Trump and the efforts being extended to Ukraine.

Vance went on to accuse Zelensky of tacitly supporting President Joe Biden in the upcoming 2024 U.S. presidential election.

The exchange grew heated as Trump stated that Zelensky had a strong "hatred" for Russian President Vladimir Putin, which complicated negotiations. "He's got tremendous hatred, and I understand that," Trump said. "But I can tell you the other side is exactly in love with you, you know him, too. So it's not a question of alignment."

Vice President Vance, who was in the Oval Office, interrupted, denouncing Biden's tactic on the war. "We experimented with the Joe Biden path, of beating our chest and acting as though the words of the President of the United States were more important than the actions of the President of the United States," he stated, suggesting Biden's attempt hadn't worked.

He went on to justify Trump's approach, saying, "What makes America a good country is America participating in diplomacy. That's what President Trump is doing."

Zelensky responded, recalling earlier diplomacy with Putin following Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014-15. He noted that agreements with Moscow had been regularly broken.

Referring to an agreement in 2019, he clarified, "He violated the ceasefire, he killed our citizens, and he didn't exchange prisoners. We agreed on the exchange of prisoners, but he didn't do it. What sort of diplomacy, JD, you are talking about?"

Vance quickly replied, "I'm talking about the kind of diplomacy that's going to stop the devastation of your country."

He then scolded Zelensky, stating, "But Mr. President, respectfully. I think it's disrespect for you to come here to the Oval Office and attempt to litigate this in front of the American press." He continued, "You ought to be thanking the President."

At one moment, Zelensky pointed out that Vance was talking too loudly, leading Trump to intervene. "He's not talking loudly. Your country is in big trouble," he insisted. "Your country is in big trouble. I know you're not winning at all. You're not winning this, you have a damning chance of winning."

Trump stressed that Ukraine must be more thankful. "You got to be more thankful, because let me tell you, you don't have the cards. With us, you have the cards, but without us, you don't have any cards. Maybe a tough deal to make, because the attitudes have to change."

As Zelensky tried to explain Ukraine's stance, Trump interrupted, saying, "Don't tell us what we're going to feel. We're trying to solve a problem." He threatened, "You're gambling with World War Three. What you are doing is very disrespectful to this country, far more than a lot of people say."

Trump had sounded keen on the minerals agreement prior to the encounter, calling it good for both parties. "It's a great deal for Ukraine, too, because they get us over there," he had told his Cabinet members during a meeting on Thursday. "We'll be working there. We'll be on land. And you see, that way it's this kind of automatic security, because no one's going to be messing with our people when we're there."

EU leaders have been pushing Trump to incorporate security assurances for Ukraine in any possible deal with Russia. French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer both came right out and brought it up themselves when they visited Washington recently.

Zelensky was said to have planned to emphasize this requirement in his meeting with Trump, possibly mentioning it during their media interactions.

Foreign affairs expert Marc Thiessen wrote on the minerals pact in an editorial for The Washington Post, saying, "The minerals deal is a security guarantee. Trump has made clear he is not going to deploy American troops to Ukraine. But under this deal, he is going to deploy something better: American workers, bulldozers, and earthmovers."