Media: What angers Trump before dispute with Zelenskyy?

In a recent article, Axios unveils that US President Donald Trump was already angered before his dispute with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Sources indicated that Trump's frustration stemmed from Zelenskyy's attire, as he had been asked in advance not to wear military uniform but showed up at the White House in black clothing adorned with national symbols instead of a formal suit.

"He is all dressed up today," Trump remarked when he shook Zelenskyy's hand at the entrance to the West Wing. 

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz were said to have informed Zelenskyy that he needed to leave the premises following the confrontation. Trump later took to Truth Social, accusing Zelenskyy of disrespecting the United States and stating that he would only be welcome back once he was ready to engage in peace talks.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s meeting with US counterpart Donald Trump at the White House on February 28 ended in disappointment, as the two leaders failed to reach an agreement on military aid to Ukraine. Zelenskyy arrived knowing that US shipments of weapons to Ukraine had largely stopped, with the Pentagon last announcing a new weapons package 50 days earlier. 

By the time he left, the situation appeared even more precarious, as the Trump administration indicated that all US aid to Ukraine, including final shipments of ammunition and equipment, could soon be canceled. A Trump administration official noted that the final shipments of arms, authorized and paid for under the Biden administration, may be halted imminently. Despite over $33 billion in US military aid already sent to Ukraine, including artillery shells, anti-tank missiles, and armored vehicles, no new packages have been announced since January. 

The remaining aid, valued at $3.85 billion, could be the last from the US under the Biden-era provisions, with future arms supplies now uncertain. During the meeting, Trump had been expected to sign an agreement giving the US access to Ukraine's mineral resources, alongside vague security guarantees. However, Zelenskyy left without a deal as Russia and North Korea continue their attacks along Ukraine’s front lines. Despite this, Ukraine’s continued reliance on US aid, which began shortly after Russia’s invasion in 2022, remains critical.

By Naila Huseynova