President Trump’s administration has put the brakes on a multi-billion dollar minerals deal with Ukraine after a heated confrontation in the Oval Office. The diplomatic drama unfolded when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reportedly challenged Trump’s approach to ending the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
At a Glance
- Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced the U.S.-Ukraine economic minerals deal is off the table following a tense White House meeting
- Zelenskyy was asked to leave the White House without signing the agreement after challenging Trump on Russia negotiations
- Bessent claimed Zelenskyy “chose to blow up” the deal despite coming to Washington specifically to sign it
- The Ukrainian President later stated Ukraine remains “ready to sign” the agreement
- Republican lawmakers criticized Zelenskyy’s behavior while Democrats called the meeting a “dumpster fire of diplomacy”
Zelensky “Blew Up” Deal During Heated Oval Office Meeting
What was supposed to be a straightforward signing ceremony for a critical minerals agreement between the United States and Ukraine instead devolved into diplomatic chaos last week. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent revealed that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy derailed the agreement by challenging President Trump’s approach to peace negotiations with Russia during their Oval Office meeting.
The minerals deal, which would have strengthened economic ties between America and Ukraine while securing valuable resources for U.S. interests, was intended to demonstrate unity between the two nations. Instead, according to administration officials, Zelenskyy’s confrontational approach led to him being asked to leave the White House without signing anything, effectively killing the agreement that had been months in the making.
Treasury Secretary “Shocked” By Ukrainian President’s Behavior
In a revealing interview with CBS’s “Face the Nation,” Treasury Secretary Bessent expressed disbelief at Zelenskyy’s actions during the high-stakes meeting. Bessent didn’t mince words when describing how the Ukrainian leader torpedoed the carefully arranged economic agreement that would have benefited both nations while signaling continued American support.
“All President Zelenskyy had to do was come in and sign this economic agreement, and again show no daylight — no daylight — between Ukrainian people and the American people, and he chose to blow that up,” Bessent said.
Bessent further explained that the Trump administration has been working to establish a clear sequence of events: first a peace deal with Russia, then economic agreements to rebuild Ukraine. According to the Treasury Secretary, Zelenskyy disrupted this carefully planned approach by trying to secure economic commitments before peace negotiations had concluded.
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Ukraine Still “Ready to Sign” Despite Diplomatic Fallout
Despite being shown the door at the White House, Zelenskyy has since indicated through social media and public statements that Ukraine remains willing to formalize the minerals agreement. The Ukrainian President appears to be attempting damage control after the diplomatic breakdown, realizing the vital importance of maintaining American support in his country’s ongoing conflict with Russia.
Zelenskyy has characterized the confrontational meeting as beneficial only to Russian President Vladimir Putin, suggesting that divisions between Ukraine and the United States play directly into Moscow’s hands. However, he has avoided addressing the central issue that reportedly triggered Trump’s anger: Zelenskyy’s public skepticism about Putin honoring any peace agreement, which contradicted the Trump administration’s optimistic stance on negotiations.
Congressional reactions have split along party lines, with Republicans backing Trump’s firm stance and Democrats lamenting what Senator Mark Kelly described as a “dumpster fire of diplomacy.” The Trump administration has made it clear that Ukraine must align with its approach to ending the conflict before any significant economic deals can move forward, putting Zelenskyy in a difficult position as his country continues to face Russian aggression while depending on American support.
