Public clash between Zelensky and Trump as rare earths deal falls through

Brussels – Volodymyr Zelensky does not trust Donald Trump’s predictions that ceding Ukrainian rare earths to the US would stop Russia’s war in his country. The US president (and his staff) take offense, there is an exchange of strong words and the deal is off. All of this happens live on TV from the Oval Office of the White House, in an escalation of tones that perhaps had never been seen (at least on live TV).

The situation was tense from the start, with Trump mocking Zelensky already upon his arrival for the way he is dressed (the Ukrainian president as usual does not have a suit, which, he explained a thousand times, he will put on when the invasion is over): “you look smart today,” he told him. Then the scene shifts to the Oval Office, where tones rise rapidly, in good part also because of the intervention of Vice President JD Vance, who accuses Zelensky of “never saying thank you” to the US. The confrontation also involved European aid, which Trump branded as much lower than US aid, while the Ukrainian president attempted to correct him by claiming that what Trump said was not true.

Essentially, Trump claimed that once the rare earths agreement was signed, with workers sent from the US “digging, digging, digging,” Russia would stop the war. Zelensky doesn’t believe it, saying that since 2024, “Vladimir Putin has violated his commitments 26 times” and that the only way to stop it is to strengthen Ukrainian defense, especially the air force, “we need it so much.”

Then, in the face of Trump standing up as an “impartial” arbiter between Moscow and Kyiv to achieve peace, the Ukrainian president reiterated that at the negotiating table, there must be “Ukraine, Russia, and the European Union, and also the United States,” but without any confirmation of this.

Trump attacks again, claiming that Zelensky is “disrespectful” to him and the US and that “you are gambling with the lives of millions of people, you are risking World War III,” and that he is, therefore, “playing his cards wrong.” “I’m not here to play cards,” retorted the Ukrainian.

The clash continued for some 20 minutes, at the end of which Zelensky left the White House without the meeting to sign the agreement taking place and without a final press conference. According to the Fox television network (very close to Trump), the US president himself asked the Ukrainian to leave.

Immediately afterwards Trump released a post on Truth stating: “We had a very meaningful meeting in the White House today. Much was learned that could never be understood without conversation under such fire and pressure. It’s amazing what comes out through emotion, and 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. 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..”

The first reaction from Europe immediately followed from Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, rotating president of the European Council: “Dear Ukrainian friends, you are not alone.”

The head of the PD delegation to the European Parliament, Nicola Zingaretti, said in a tweet: “The president of the US has forgotten that he is the president of a great democracy and is acting as a master by offending those under attack. Now, Europe unites even more in defense of freedom, peace, and justice.”