Volodymyr Zelensky left the White House in a hurry on Friday after a particularly tense meeting with Donald TrumpArriving in Washington to secure a new economic and military support agreement, the Ukrainian president faced harsh criticism from the US president and his vice president, J.D. Vance, who accused him of lacking gratitude toward the United States. The exchange turned heated, leading to the cancellation of the joint press conference.
Donald Trump said on his social network that Zelensky “is not ready for peace if America is involved” and that he “can come back when he is ready.” According to the American president, the Ukrainian leader considers the support of the United States as a strategic advantage in negotiations with Russia.
During the meeting, Trump urged Zelensky to make a deal with Moscow or risk losing U.S. support. He also questioned Ukraine’s ability to continue the war without U.S. military assistance, stressing that kyiv “doesn’t hold the cards.”
Tensions were palpable from the moment the Ukrainian president arrived, when Trump mocked his customary military attire. The talks, initially intended to finalize a deal on Ukrainian resources, quickly devolved into deep disagreements over strategy against Russia.
The agreement under negotiation was to establish a joint investment fund in Ukrainian minerals and infrastructure. However, it did not include any security guarantees for kyiv, which has sparked additional tensions.
The tense meeting illustrates Trump's radically different approach to the Ukrainian conflict. Unlike his predecessors, he is banking on a rapid de-escalation, even if it means forcing kyiv to make concessions.
Europeans are following this development with concern, particularly after the recent rapprochement between Trump and Vladimir Putin. The American president has reaffirmed his confidence in his Russian counterpart, despite warnings from London and Paris about the fragility of an agreement without solid guarantees.
