A confrontation unfolded in the Oval Office as Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyyy faced off verbally, with the US president raising his voice to demand that his guest be “grateful.” The altercation began when Vice President JD Vance told Zelenskyyy that he was being “disrespectful” towards Americans. Zelenskyyy had traveled to Washington to sign an agreement on strategic minerals and discuss the ongoing war with Russia, which invaded his country three years ago.
The situation escalated as Trump jumped in, reproaching Zelenskyyy for putting himself in a “very bad position” and telling him that “they don’t have the letters” in his hand. Trump then said, “You are not being grateful. It’s not something nice.” He threatened, “His people are very brave, but either reach an agreement or leave them alone, and if we leave them alone, they will fight.” Trump also stated that it will be “very difficult” to negotiate with the Ukrainian leader.
A Tense Visit
The visit began on a tense note, with Trump commenting on Zelenskyyy’s outfit, saying, “It is very elegant today.” It was unclear if this was meant as a joke or a veiled criticism. In the Oval Office, Zelenskyyy said that Trump was “on the side” of Ukraine, and the US president congratulated himself on reaching a “very fair” agreement on access to Ukrainian resources. However, Zelenskyyy also emphasized that no commitment should be made to Vladimir Putin, whom he described as a “murderer.”
Trump revealed that he had spoken “many” times recently with the Russian president, with whom he has strengthened relations since his return to power. A joint press conference is scheduled, but it remains to be seen if it will take place, along with the signing of a framework on minerals, hydrocarbons, and Ukrainian infrastructure. The agreement between Washington and Kyiv does not meet the initial demands of the US president, who wanted a reference to a sum of $500 billion, which has disappeared from the final text.
A Delicate Situation
The text establishes a joint fund for minerals, hydrocarbons, and investments, and offers security guarantees for Ukraine in case of a cessation of hostilities. However, Trump said that the agreement would work as a kind of “security network.” He added, “I don’t think anyone is going to look for problems if we are (in Ukraine) with many workers” extracting minerals. The stakes are high, with Ukraine and Europe worried about Trump’s negotiations with Putin, who spoke at length on February 12 and began discussions to end the war.
The US president repeated that he trusts the Russian president, despite warnings from London and Paris about the fragility of any truce that is not accompanied by a solid control and security mechanism guaranteed by the United States. Trump said he is convinced that Putin “will fulfill his word” in case of a ceasefire. He refuses to consider Moscow responsible for the war and has closed the door to a possible Ukrainian entry into NATO.