High-Stakes Meeting Turns Confrontational as Trump Cancels Critical Minerals Agreement
WASHINGTON — What was meant to be a routine diplomatic exchange between the United States and Ukraine turned into an extraordinary Oval Office clash on Friday, as President Donald Trump abruptly canceled a key minerals deal and berated Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for being “disrespectful.”
Zelenskyy, who had arrived in Washington seeking reassurance of continued U.S. support in Ukraine’s war against Russia, instead found himself at the center of a heated confrontation. The tense meeting ended with Trump’s advisers asking the Ukrainian leader to leave the White House, sending shockwaves through diplomatic circles.
A Deal Derailed
Zelenskyy was expected to sign a minerals deal that would have given the U.S. greater access to Ukraine’s rare earth resources—an agreement Trump claimed was essential for Kyiv to “repay” the more than $180 billion in U.S. aid since the war began. However, after a fiery exchange between the leaders in front of the press, the signing ceremony and a planned joint press conference were abruptly called off.
“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 say they should have,” Trump snapped at Zelenskyy, according to officials present.
Tensions Boil Over
The final ten minutes of the nearly 45-minute meeting saw an intense back-and-forth between Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Zelenskyy. The Ukrainian president, who has long urged skepticism over Russian diplomatic overtures, pushed Trump to stay firm against Vladimir Putin. Instead, he was met with open hostility.
For Zelenskyy, the White House visit was a critical moment to ensure continued American backing for Ukraine. Instead, he left without a deal—and with deep uncertainty about the future of U.S.-Ukraine relations under Trump’s leadership.
With the minerals agreement now in limbo, questions remain: Will Trump demand new concessions from Ukraine? And how will this unexpected rupture impact the ongoing war and global security? For now, Zelenskyy returns to Kyiv without answers—and without the assurance he desperately sought.
