Zelenskyy leaves White House without signing minerals deal after explosive Oval Office clash VIDEO

In a dramatic turn of events, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy left the White House on February 28 without signing a crucial minerals deal, following a heated confrontation with President Donald Trump during an Oval Office meeting.

The agreement, which was initially expected to grant the US greater access to Ukraine’s rare earth minerals, was abruptly called off after the two leaders clashed in front of the press, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

Trump expressed his anger at Zelenskyy, accusing him of being “disrespectful” during the tense exchange, which quickly escalated. "You’re gambling with World War III, and what you’re doing is very disrespectful to the country, this country that’s backed you far more than a lot of people say they should have," Trump berated Zelenskyy, visibly frustrated.

The meeting, initially cordial, spiraled into a verbal altercation as Zelenskyy urged caution regarding Russia’s willingness to negotiate. His primary aim had been to stress the importance of continued American support for Ukraine and to warn against any potential rapprochement with Russian President Vladimir Putin. However, the discussion soon took a turn for the worse.

At one point, Zelenskyy stated, "Putin has broken 'his own signature' 25 times on ceasefires and other agreements and could not be trusted." Trump, however, retorted, claiming that Putin had not violated agreements with him personally, and pushed back on Zelenskyy’s calls for security guarantees for Ukraine, instead insisting that the minerals deal would be key to ending the ongoing conflict.

The disagreement deepened when Vice President JD Vance, present in the meeting, challenged Zelenskyy’s public statements. "Mr. President, with respect, I think it’s disrespectful for you to come to the Oval Office to try to litigate this in front of the American media," Vance stated. Trump soon followed up with his own remarks, sharply criticizing Zelenskyy. "You’re not in a good position. You don’t have the cards right now," Trump pointedly told the Ukrainian leader.

As the atmosphere grew increasingly tense, Trump and Zelenskyy talked over each other, with Trump decrying Zelenskyy’s “hatred” for Putin as a major obstacle to peace. “You see the hatred he’s got for Putin,” Trump said. “That’s very tough for me to make a deal with that kind of hate.” The president also expressed doubt about Zelenskyy’s willingness to pursue peace, adding that he wanted an “immediate ceasefire” but was unsure if Ukraine’s leader was ready for such a step.

Following the confrontation, Trump took to social media, declaring that Zelenskyy was "not ready for Peace" and that he had "disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office." Trump further stated that Zelenskyy could "come back when he is ready for Peace."

Zelenskyy’s appearance on Fox News later in the day revealed his own frustration with the meeting. He acknowledged the discord, describing the exchange as "not good for both sides," but emphasized that Ukraine could not simply change its stance toward Russia overnight. "Ukraine won’t enter peace talks with Russia until it has security guarantees against another offensive," he affirmed.

Zelenskyy’s social media message after leaving the White House expressed gratitude for American support, but underscored Ukraine's need for assurances of continued US backing. "Thank you America, thank you for your support, thank you for this visit," Zelenskyy wrote. "Ukraine needs just and lasting peace, and we are working exactly for that."

The fallout from the meeting has already drawn sharp criticism from Democratic lawmakers, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who accused Trump and Vance of "doing Putin’s dirty work." The incident also raised concerns about the future of US-Ukraine relations, particularly with some Republican allies, such as Senator Lindsey Graham, expressing skepticism about the possibility of mending ties between Trump and Zelenskyy.

Meanwhile, European leaders rallied behind Zelenskyy. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen posted on social media, praising the Ukrainian president’s "dignity," which, she said, "honors the bravery of the Ukrainian people." Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called for "an immediate summit" between the US and European allies to address "how we intend to face today’s great challenges, starting with Ukraine."

The volatile meeting and the abrupt cancellation of the minerals deal cast uncertainty on the future of US-Ukraine relations, with some fearing that Trump's approach to Russia might lead to a peace agreement that could be disadvantageous to Ukraine. The situation remains fluid, as Zelenskyy continues to press for security guarantees and continued Western support against Russian aggression.

By Vafa Guliyeva