Trump and Zelenskyy fallout over peace deal
Diplomatic tensions between the U.S. and Ukraine have intensified after a heated Oval Office exchange between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy
NBC– Diplomatic tensions between the U.S. and Ukraine have intensified after a heated Oval Office exchange between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday. Zelenskyy, now working to strengthen European alliances, was asked to leave the White House without signing a deal to share Ukraine’s critical minerals with the U.S.—an agreement seen as a first step toward a potential peace deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin. During the meeting, Trump asserted Ukraine was not in a strong bargaining position. “You’re not in a good position. You don’t have the cards right now. With us, you start having cards,” Trump told Zelenskyy. “I’m not playing cards,” Zelenskyy responded.
Overnight, Trump doubled down, posting that the U.S. should focus “less on Putin” and more on domestic issues, including crime and immigration. Zelenskyy pressed for security guarantees to prevent future Russian aggression, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio insisted that Russia must come to the negotiating table before any peace deal is possible. “The question now is can we get them to a table to negotiate. That’s our goal. Don’t do anything to disrupt that,” Rubio said.
Despite the tensions, Zelenskyy signaled he is still willing to sign the mineral agreement and believes he can repair ties with Washington. Meanwhile, European allies are stepping up to support Ukraine. “We’ve agreed that the UK, France, and others will work with Ukraine on a plan to stop the fighting,” said UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Back home, the Trump administration’s Ukraine strategy has drawn criticism from Democrats. “The White House has become an arm of the Kremlin,” said Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT).
Public frustration was evident as protests broke out across the U.S., from Vermont, where Vice President J.D. Vance was vacationing, to Seattle, where Ukrainian-American Daria Diachenko voiced her fear. “I’m terrified – I’m trying to hold my tears right now, but it’s not easy,” she said. With tensions high and no clear path to peace, the future of U.S.-Ukraine relations remains uncertain
