Zelenskyy departs White House without signing minerals deal following tense Oval Office exchange
WASHINGTON (AP) — In a dramatic Oval Office encounter, President Donald Trump rebuked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday, calling him “disrespectful” before abruptly scrapping the signing of a minerals deal that Trump claimed would have brought Ukraine closer to ending its war with Russia.
The unexpected breakdown could have far-reaching consequences across Europe and beyond. Zelenskyy had been scheduled to finalize the agreement, granting the U.S. greater access to Ukraine’s rare earth minerals, and participate in a joint press conference. However, those plans unraveled following a heated exchange between the leaders, witnessed by members of the press.
The fate of the minerals deal—an agreement Trump argued was necessary to justify over $180 billion in U.S. aid to Kyiv—now remains uncertain. It is also unclear what, if anything, Trump expects Zelenskyy to do to revive negotiations.
Shortly after the confrontation, top Trump advisers escorted Zelenskyy out of the White House.
“You’re gambling with World War III, and what you’re doing is very disrespectful to this country—this country that’s backed you far more than a lot of people think it should have,” Trump reportedly told Zelenskyy.
The last ten minutes of the nearly 45-minute meeting devolved into an intense back-and-forth between Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Zelenskyy. The Ukrainian president had sought to warn against moving too close to Russian President Vladimir Putin and urged caution about Russia’s diplomatic intentions, citing its history of broken commitments.
Zelenskyy’s primary goal had been to secure Trump’s continued support and prevent a shift in U.S. policy toward Moscow. Instead, the meeting ended with Trump raising his voice, seemingly amplifying the tension for the cameras.
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