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A planned agreement for Ukraine to share mining resources with the U.S. was derailed Friday when a meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and U.S. leaders became contentious. The Oval Office discussion, attended by President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance, reportedly broke down over U.S. demands for Ukraine to show more appreciation for American aid and accept a ceasefire with Russia, even without firm security assurances from the U.S.
“You don’t have the cards right now,” Trump stated to Zelensky, amidst a heated back-and-forth in front of news cameras.
“We’re not playing cards,” Zelensky responded. The Ukrainian president repeatedly countered Trump, arguing that Russian President Vladimir Putin was unreliable, citing previous violations of ceasefire and prisoner exchange deals. Zelensky warned that a U.S. withdrawal from Ukraine would increase the risk to U.S. security due to a strengthened Russia.
Trump reacted strongly to Zelensky’s resistance, his tone becoming more severe. “You’re gambling with the lives of millions of people. You’re gambling with World War III,” Trump declared.
The public display in the Oval Office was unprecedented. Typically, such meetings involve smiles and handshakes for the cameras, with difficult negotiations held privately. However, the underlying tensions between the two leaders surfaced publicly.
Shortly afterward, Trump ended the discussions, posting on Truth Social that Zelensky had “disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office. He can come back when he is ready for Peace.”
