FT: Zelenskyy's temper flared during talks with US Treasury Secretary over resource deal

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s relationship with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent turned tense during Bessent’s official visit to Kyiv.

According to the Financial Times report, the visit, aimed at discussing a resource deal, escalated when Zelenskyy openly expressed displeasure and reportedly yelled at Bessent, Caliber.Az reports.

The situation was compounded by US President Donald Trump’s comments, who later claimed that Ukrainian officials were uncooperative and dismissive during the visit.

Trump alleged that Zelenskyy had been “sleeping” and unavailable for the meeting with Bessent, despite the lengthy and perilous journey the Treasury Secretary undertook to meet with the Ukrainian leader. The US Treasury Secretary had travelled for hours by train, a route Trump described as dangerous, to finalize the agreement for Washington to access Ukraine’s rare earth minerals in exchange for security support. However, upon arrival, the deal was not signed, and Bessent returned without any resolution.

According to a source present at the talks, tensions were palpable behind closed doors in Zelenskyy’s office, with sharp tones clearly indicating dissatisfaction. Witnesses described Zelensky’s anger as strong and noticeable during the encounter.

Trump, on February 19, labelled the Ukrainian President's treatment of Bessent as "rude" and slammed Zelenskyy for being unavailable. The former US president also criticized Zelenskyy’s leadership, calling him a “dictator” who has refused to hold elections while the Russians “hold the cards” in negotiations to end the war.

Trump’s remarks followed a broader criticism of US military support for Ukraine. He questioned the ongoing funding of Ukraine’s defense against Russian forces, proposing that access to Ukraine’s rare earth materials be used as a condition for sustaining this support.

In response, Zelenskyy rejected Trump’s accusations, dismissing them as the result of Russian “disinformation” and pointing out that Trump was out of touch with Ukraine’s realities. Zelensky’s comments came after Trump questioned his popularity, with the Ukrainian leader defending his stance as he continues to lead the country under martial law since Russia’s invasion in 2022.

The US has been a crucial ally to Ukraine, providing both military aid and funding, but Trump’s ongoing dialogue with Moscow and his stance on military support has ruffled feathers in Kyiv and among European backers, who fear that any peace agreement brokered by Trump could be heavily skewed in Russia’s favour.

By Tamilla Hasanova