Trump and Zelensky fail to sign minerals deal after clash in White House shouting match

WASHINGTON - Plans to sign a critical minerals deal between the US and Ukraine were scrapped after Mr Donald Trump’s meeting on Feb 28 with Mr Volodymyr Zelensky quickly devolved into

a fiery exchange

over the Ukrainian leader’s doubts that the US President’s efforts to broker a deal with Russia would yield lasting peace.

Mr Zelensky departed the White House following the public spat, and a planned signing ceremony and press conference were cancelled.

US officials said the minerals deal – which Mr Trump had cast as a necessary step to repay American support as he sought to broker a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin – was not signed before Mr Zelensky’s departure. 

“He disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office. He can come back when he is ready for Peace,” Mr Trump said in a social media post shortly before Mr Zelensky’s departure.

The Ukrainian leader angered Mr Trump and US Vice-President J.D. Vance when he said he did not believe the planned deal would do enough to deter further Russian aggression.

“Putin will never stop and will go further and further,” Mr Zelensky said, adding that the Russian leader “hates Ukrainians” and wanted to destroy the country. “We can do it, but it’s not enough,” he added of the deal.

As Mr Zelensky sought to make his point, Mr Trump and Mr Vance lit into the beleaguered leader, suggesting his approach – delivered in the Oval Office – was disrespectful and inhibiting an end to the bloody three-year war. 

“It’s going to be very hard to do business like this,” Mr Trump said, telling Mr Zelensky he was not sure the Ukrainian leader could make a deal. “You’ve got to be more thankful, because let me tell you, you don’t have the cards. With us, you have the cards, but without us, you don’t have any cards.”

“You’re gambling with World War III,” Mr Trump continued. “And what you’re doing is very disrespectful to the country – this country – that’s backed you far more than a lot of people said they should,” he said. “You’re either going to make a deal or we’re out, and if we’re out, you’ll fight it out. I don’t think it is going to be pretty.”

The meeting had been intended as a moment of unity between the leaders, who were set to sign the natural resources agreement, which was designed to satisfy Mr Trump’s concerns that US aid would not be repaid. Mr Trump had touted the agreement as a major commitment from the US to Ukraine, as he initially welcomed Mr Zelensky to the White House for a high-stakes meeting with stark implications for the fight to repel Russia’s invasion.

“It’s a pathway to peace. It’s a pathway to getting something solved,” Mr Trump said.

The deal, however, did not offer the explicit security guarantees Mr Zelensky had wanted, instead focusing on the economic partnership between the US and Ukraine. Mr Zelensky told Mr Trump that Russian President Vladimir Putin had repeatedly violated previous ceasefire agreements and that Ukraine would never accept a simple ceasefire to conclude the war. He insisted to Mr Trump that the mineral deal was not enough to ensure Ukraine’s security.

Public clash

The underlying tension between the leaders was obvious. Mr Trump had his eyes closed and was tapping his fingers as Mr Zelensky stressed his concerns about Mr Putin reneging on an agreement. When Mr Trump downplayed the threat of a future attack, the Ukrainian leader shook his head.

“I’m in the middle. I want to solve this thing. I’m for both,” Mr Trump insisted. “It’s wonderful to speak badly about somebody else, but I want to get it solved.”

Then the meeting exploded when Mr Vance, sitting nearby, criticised Mr Zelensky’s approach.

“Do you think that it’s respectful to come to the Oval Office of the United States of America and attack the administration that’s trying to prevent the destruction of your country?” Mr Vance asked.

Mr Trump said Mr Zelensky had “tremendous hatred” for Mr Putin and suggested that the anger could be inhibiting a deal, while also defending his warm relations with the Russian leader as more likely to yield results.

“I could be tougher than any human being you’ve ever seen. I’d be so tough, but you’re never going to get it done that way,” Mr Trump said.

And the leaders sparred after Mr Zelensky suggested Mr Trump did not understand the issue because the US was protected by an ocean, and didn’t face the looming threat from Russia. 

“You’re in no position to dictate what we’re going to feel. We’re going to feel very good. We’re going to feel very good and very strong. You’re right now not in a very good position. You’ve allowed yourself to be in a very bad position,” Mr Trump said.

“Have you said thank you once?” Mr Vance added. He went on to suggest Mr Zelensky had campaigned for former vice-president Kamala Harris with his trip last fall to an ammunition plant in the battleground state of Pennsylvania.

“Offer some words of appreciation for the United States of America and the President who’s trying to save your country,” Mr Vance admonished.

Minerals deal

The fate of the natural resources deal remained in doubt as the meeting broke. Mr Trump originally called the deal an “exciting moment” and said funds from the deal could also be used for artificial intelligence and military weapons. He reiterated that he would continue military sales to Ukraine.

“We don’t know exactly how much because we’re going to be putting some money in a fund that we’re going to get from the raw earth that we’re going to be taking and sharing in terms of revenues, so it’s going to be a lot of money,” he said.

Still, Mr Trump has downplayed calls for more explicit security guarantees, suggesting the economic ties between Ukraine and the US would suffice to deter Mr Putin from further aggression.

“I think once we make the agreement, that’s going to be 95 per cent of it, it’s not going to go back to fighting,” Mr Trump said. “I’ve spoken with President Putin, and I think, I mean, I feel very strong. I’ve known him for a long time, and I feel very strongly that they’re very serious about it.”

“I’m not worried about security, I’m worried about getting the deal done,” he added.

Mr Zelensky’s visit caps a dramatic week that saw both French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer visit Washington to push Mr Trump to offer US support for a European “backstop” to protect Ukraine from further attacks. 

France and Britain have discussed deploying a peacekeeping force, but any such initiative will require US assistance. However, Mr Trump has declined to provide any assurances of US support and cast it as an issue for Europe to deal with. He has also pressured allies to contribute more to collective security. BLOOMBERG