Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is leaving Washington without signing a rare earths deal with the United States following a volatile exchange with American leadership.
The meeting between Zelenskyy and President Donald Trump at the White House was supposed to be one of resolve and progress, with the two sides agreeing to a deal that would grant the United States access to billions of dollars’ worth of rare earth minerals while working toward security guarantees against future Russian aggression for Ukraine.
Meeting Collapses
Trump and Zelenskyy’s conflicting visions became evident as they hashed them out in front of reporters at an Oval Office press engagement.Throughout the discussion, Zelenskyy indicated his unwillingness to compromise with Russian President Vladimir Putin to reach a cease-fire with Russia. He also repeatedly called for additional military support for Ukraine, including U.S. air defense systems.
Trump downplayed the importance of new security guarantees.
“Security is so easy. That’s about 2 percent of the problem. I’m not worried about security. I’m worried about getting the deal done. The security is the easy part,” Trump said.
“What kind of diplomacy, JD, you are speaking about?” Zelenskyy asked.
“I’m talking about the kind of diplomacy that’s going to end the destruction of your country,” Vance replied.
“Mr. President, with respect, I think it’s disrespectful for you to come into the Oval Office and try to litigate this in front of the American media.”
After some back and forth between Zelenskyy and Vance about the appropriateness of Zelenskyy’s approach in asking the United States for more help, the Ukrainian president suggested that while the conflict may not immediately be a problem for the United States, “you will feel it in the future.”
Trump, who appeared to take offense to such wording, then interjected.
“You don’t know that,” he said. “Don’t tell us what we’re going to feel. Because you’re in no position to dictate that.”
As Zelenskyy raised his doubts about the efficacy of diplomacy, Trump again warned that Zelenskyy lacked the leverage to push a tougher negotiating stance.
“You don’t have the cards right now. With us, you start having cards,” Trump said, amid interruptions from Zelenskyy.
“I’m not playing cards. I’m very serious,” the Ukrainian leader interjected.
“You’re gambling with the lives of millions of people. You’re gambling with World War III,” Trump continued. “And what you’re doing is very disrespectful to the country—this country—that’s backed you far more than a lot of people said [it] should have.”
In one of his last comments before White House staff ushered reporters out of the Oval Office, Trump told Zelenskyy, “Your people are very brave, but you’re either going to make a deal or we’re out.”
“If we’re out, you‘ll fight it out,” Trump continued. “I don’t think it’s going to be very pretty, but you’ll fight it out.”
Responses
The unprecedented scene sent immediate shockwaves throughout the global diplomatic space, with Republicans and Russian officials praising Trump while Democrats and some European leaders condemned the display.Dmitry Medvedev, who serves as deputy chair for Russia’s national security council, praised what he described as Trump’s “fierce scolding” of Zelenskyy.
“Trump told [Zelenskyy] the truth to his face: the Kiev regime is gambling with World War III,” Medvedev said in a post on Telegram.
Medvedev added that Moscow would now need to work to cut Western military aid from reaching Ukraine altogether.
Russian lawmaker Andrei Klishas likewise hailed the outcome of the meeting as “a brilliant result.”
Leaders from across Europe, however, expressed immediate disappointment in the U.S. administration, with several European leaders calling for a reassessment of U.S.-EU relations.
Kaja Kallas, who serves as the EU’s high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, said on social media platform X that “the free world needs a new leader.”
Italy’s conservative Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called for an immediate summit between EU and U.S. leadership, saying that the West’s commitment to Ukraine must remain united.
The failure to secure a rare earths deal could have long-term consequences for both the United States and Ukraine.
It means that the United States will not at this time gain access to billions of dollars worth of metals that it needs to lessen its dependence on communist China.
Likewise, it means that Ukraine may lose precious security assistance from the United States, which has provided several advanced weapons systems to Kyiv over the years.
In all, the United States has committed a little less than half of the total international assistance to Ukraine since Russia’s full scale invasion in 2022. While the American contribution to Ukraine is less than that of its European partners, however, the quality of the advanced systems the U.S. sends to Ukraine for air defense and other uses mean that its assistance punches above its weight in a dollar-for-dollar comparison.
While it is too early to say what the total fallout from Trump and Zelenskyy’s meeting today will be, it is clear that the United States and Europe are entering a new era of relations. One in which European leadership will need to take a larger leadership role while the United States turns its focus elsewhere.
For Zelenskyy to be invited back to the White House, “He’s got to say, ‘I want to make peace,’” Trump said.
Zelenskyy, for his part, thanked the American people for their country’s support throughout the war.
He also reiterated his position on a cease-fire agreement, suggesting that he was open to peace, but insisted on securing lasting peace through security guarantees from the United States.
