Trump ends talks with Zelensky, future of deal uncertain
After a turbulent exchange between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office, the U.S. president decided to end the talks. According to sources from the White House, Trump concluded that Zelensky was "not in a place to negotiate" and instructed him to leave the White House, refusing further meetings. The Ukrainian delegation, despite wanting to continue discussions, was sent away without a joint lunch or further negotiations.
Following the exchange, Trump immediately gathered his key advisors, including Senators J.D. Vance and Marco Rubio, and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, to discuss further actions regarding Zelensky. This information was provided by journalist Kaitlan Collins of CNN.
A White House source reported that Trump determined the president of Ukraine was "not in a place to negotiate," prompting him to end the talks. Subsequently, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz were instructed to inform Zelensky that he must leave the White House.
The Ukrainian delegation, as per protocol, was in a separate room where they usually waited for the next round of talks and a joint diplomatic luncheon. This time, however, no further meetings took place. According to Collins, the meal prepared for the Ukrainian guests remained untouched, sitting on carts in the hallway as Zelensky and his delegation were given clear instructions to leave the White House.
A source within the U.S. administration claims that the Ukrainian side wanted to continue negotiations; however, they were met with refusal.
As a result, President Zelensky and his team left the White House shortly after the order was issued. The entire situation highlights the growing tensions in relations between Washington and Kyiv and suggests a change in the Trump administration's approach to further support for Ukraine.
Let's recall—the main purpose of President Zelensky's visit to Washington was to sign a framework agreement on mineral resources with the U.S. This agreement aimed to jointly develop Ukraine's mineral deposits, such as rare earth metals, benefiting both sides. For Ukraine, it would mean financial support for reconstruction and strengthening the economy, whereas for the U.S., it would secure access to key resources and reduce dependency on other suppliers such as China.
During the meeting in the Oval Office, there was a sharp exchange of words between Presidents Trump and Zelensky.
The U.S. president accused his Ukrainian counterpart of disrespect and being unprepared for peace negotiations, leading to the premature end of talks and the cancellation of the planned press conference. As a result, the mineral resources agreement was not signed, and the future of cooperation between the U.S. and Ukraine remains uncertain.
