By The Epoch Times | Created at 2025-02-28 19:35:24 | Updated at 2025-03-04 08:34:39
3 days ago
After a heated meeting at the Oval Office, a planned U.S.-Ukraine minerals deal was called off.
WASHINGTON—President Donald Trump said on Feb. 28 that Ukrainian President Zelensky is not ready for peace with Russia, in a statement following his tense meeting with Zelensky, which ended with the Ukrainian leader leaving the White House earlier than scheduled.
“I have determined that President Zelenskyy is not ready for Peace if America is involved, because he feels our involvement gives him a big advantage in negotiations,” Trump said on Truth Social.
“I don’t want advantage, I want PEACE. He disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office. He can come back when he is ready for Peace.”
Zelenskyy’s highly anticipated meeting was scheduled at the White House, where both sides were expected to sign a minerals agreement and discuss the Russia-Ukraine war. However, the meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy in the Oval Office quickly escalated into a heated argument after both Trump and Vice President JD Vance accused the Ukrainian leader of failing to show gratitude for U.S. assistance.
Before their bilateral meeting began, both leaders took questions from the media, during which their differing expectations on security commitments became clear.
The meeting, which initially seemed friendly, turned heated when Zelensky insisted that he would not accept a cease-fire without security guarantees from the United States.
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Trump warned Zelenskyy that he was in a tough spot in the negotiations and was risking losing U.S. support entirely.
This article will be updated.
