Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed his gratitude this Friday to the U.S. president, Congress, and the American people, reaffirming Ukraine’s commitment to a “just and lasting peace” after a tense meeting with former President Donald Trump at the White House.
“Thank you, U.S., thank you for your support, thank you for this visit. Thanks to the president, Congress, and the American people. Ukraine needs a just and lasting peace, and we are working exactly toward that,” Zelensky wrote on his X social media account.
The meeting was marked by a heated exchange. Trump told Zelensky that Ukraine would have to make “compromises” in a possible truce with Moscow, while the Ukrainian leader insisted there should be no concessions with Russia’s “murderous” leader.
During the meeting, Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance rebuked Zelensky, accusing him of not showing enough gratitude for U.S. support and of pressuring for a peace deal with Russia. They also criticized his “disrespectful” attitude for trying to make his case to the press.
This episode highlights the growing divisions within U.S. leadership regarding the war in Ukraine, as military and financial support remains a central issue in foreign policy.
White House sources reported that the joint exploitation agreement for Ukrainian mineral resources, which was supposed to be signed this Friday between Trump and Zelensky, was scrapped following their public disagreement. The document was seen as a preliminary step toward a possible peace deal between Kyiv and Moscow.
The agreement proposed the creation of a joint investment fund, financed and managed by both nations, with Ukraine contributing 50% of the profits from its natural resources, including gas, oil, and rare earth minerals, which are crucial for technological development and a sector currently dominated by China.
The negotiations had already been finalized, and only the signing was left, scheduled for a ceremony at the White House. However, the meeting turned into a tense confrontation, ending with Zelensky leaving the premises before the scheduled lunch.
The initial statements at the White House lasted about 50 minutes. At first, Trump and Zelensky maintained a cordial tone, but tensions escalated after Vice President J.D. Vance intervened about half an hour into the meeting.
Visibly irritated, Trump warned Zelensky that he was in no position to set conditions for peace and accused him of “flirting with World War III.” He also noted that reaching an agreement would be “difficult” if “attitudes don’t change.”
Following the meeting, Trump announced on his social media platform Truth Social that he would no longer negotiate with Zelensky, accused him of “disrespecting” the U.S., and stated that he could only return when he is “ready for peace.”
As a result of the conflict, the planned lunch and joint press conference were canceled, marking an abrupt end to Zelensky’s visit to Washington.
