What Happened During Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s Meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump

Editorial Assistant Ahmad Aaram covers the controversial meeting between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky that happened in February. 

Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, met with the United States President, Donald Trump, at the White House on 28 February 2025. The meeting ended in a heated confrontation, with Trump berating Zelensky before calling off the minerals deal they were expected to sign. The meeting, intended to discuss security guarantees and U.S. support for Ukraine, turned into a heated exchange, with Trump accusing Zelensky of being "disrespectful" and “gambling with millions of lives." ^[1]

The discussion, lasting about 45 minutes, saw tensions rise, particularly in the last ten minutes. Trump, alongside Vice President, James David Vance, criticised Zelensky’s skepticism regarding Russia’s diplomatic commitments. Zelensky pointed out how Russian President, Vladimir Putin, had repeatedly broken agreements, to which Trump responded that Putin had not broken agreements with him. Trump further stated that he remained "in the middle" and not aligned with either Ukraine or Russia.^[1] He further questioned Zelensky’s strong stance against Putin as a barrier to peace.

Zelensky’s primary goal was to ensure continued U.S. support for Ukraine and to ascertain security guarantees against future Russian aggression. However, Trump insisted that the minerals deal, which would grant the U.S. access to Ukraine’s rare earth resources, was crucial for ending the war. When Zelensky brought up security concerns instead, Trump became visibly frustrated and ended the meeting abruptly. Vice President JD Vance criticised Zelensky for addressing these concerns in front of the American media, calling it "disrespectful.” ^[1]

As the conversation grew more heated, Trump accused Zelensky of failing to show sufficient gratitude for the over $180 billion in aid that the U.S. had provided to Ukraine. Vance further added, "just say thank you," to which Zelensky responded that he had expressed appreciation numerous times.^[1] The meeting concluded on a tense note, with Trump pointing at Zelensky and stating, "you don’t have the cards right now." ^[1]

Shortly after, Trump posted on social media that Zelensky was "not ready for peace" and could return when he was.^[1] He later told reporters that Ukraine should pursue an immediate ceasefire with Russia, doubting Zelensky’s willingness to engage in peace talks. Meanwhile, Zelensky appeared on Fox News, describing the meeting as "not good for both sides" but emphasising that Ukraine still needed American support.^[1]

The fallout from the meeting has drawn criticism from various quarters. Senate Democratic Leader, Chuck Schumer, accused Trump and Vance of "doing Putin’s dirty work."^[1] European leaders quickly reaffirmed their commitment to Ukraine, with European Union Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, praising Zelensky’s resilience. Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, called for an immediate summit among Western allies to discuss Ukraine’s security, and the future of transatlantic relations.

The abrupt end to the meeting and Trump’s decision to stall the minerals deal has raised concerns over the future of U.S. support for Ukraine. Some analysts fear that Trump may be positioning himself to broker a peace deal favourable to Russia. The breakdown in discussions underscores growing uncertainty over the relationship between the U.S. and Ukraine and the broader geopolitical landscape. 

ENDNOTES

[1] Weissert, Will, et al. “Zelenskyy Leaves White House without Signing Minerals Deal after Oval Office Blowup.” AP News, 01 March 2025, apnews.com/article/zelenskyy-security-guarantees-trump-meeting-washington-eebdf97b663c2cdc9e51fa346b09591d.