Put a minerals’ deal with Ukraine temporarily on hold, but Zelensky “has no cards”.
Trump-Zelensky Meeting Implodes
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky appears to have no idea how to deal with Trump. So, put a peace deal on hold, but ultimately Ukraine has no choice.
The Wall Street Journal reports Trump-Zelensky Meeting Implodes, Threatening Peace Talks
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky left the White House on Friday without signing a proposed mineral-rights deal after a combative exchange with President Trump over how to negotiate a settlement in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
The two leaders canceled a joint press conference that had been scheduled for later in the afternoon. “He disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office,” Trump wrote in a social media message. “He can come back when he is ready for Peace.”
Ukraine had sought the meeting to line up U.S. support against Russian aggression, which it hoped to solidify with the minerals agreement. The abrupt ending left unclear how much military and political support the Trump administration was prepared to provide to Kyiv in coming months.
It also muddied the prospects that a European peacekeeping force could be readied to secure a settlement if one is negotiated, since European leaders have signaled that such a deployment would need some form of American military support.
French and British leaders had met with Trump earlier this week to appeal for a U.S. “backstop” for such a force and set the stage for what they hoped would be a constructive meeting between Zelensky and Trump.
Shortly after leaving the White House, Zelensky sought to reassure Americans—and Trump—that he appreciated their support. “Thank you America, thank you for your support, thank you for this visit,” he wrote on “X” “Thank you @POTUS, Congress, and the American people. Ukraine needs just and lasting peace, and we are working exactly for that.”
The tensions between Zelensky and Trump burst into the open Friday in the Oval Office as the Ukrainian leader urged the U.S. not to trust Russia President Vladimir Putin and Trump responded that Kyiv needed to accept that it had a weak negotiating hand.
Even as the back-and-forth grew more heated, Trump said he wanted the American people to see it, saying it would be “great television.” Zelensky urged Trump and Vance to visit Ukraine, but Vance dismissed trips there by foreign leaders as propaganda tours.
“Even after the war we need our nation to be secure, “ Zelensky said.
Trump said that Ukraine would be an enormous disadvantage in dealing with Russia without some help from Washington. “Without us, you don’t have any cards,” he said.
Vladimir How Are We Doing
Here’s a great video of the meeting.
Partial Transcript
Zelensky: My friends in Poland are worried that you align to much with Putin. What’s your message for them?
Trump: If I didn’t align myself with both if them, you’d never have a deal. You want me to say really terrible things about Putin and then say Hi Vladimir, how are we doing on the deal. It doesn’t work that way. I am not aligned with Putin. I’m not aligned with anybody. I am aligned with the United States of America, and for the good of the world. I am aligned with the world and I want to get this thing over with. [Speaking to reporters] You see the hatred he’s [Zelensky’s] got for Putin. It’s very tough for me to make a deal with that kind of hatred. …. You want me to be tough? I could be tougher than any human being you’ve ever seen. I’d be so tough that you’d never get a deal that way. So, that’s the way it goes.
Vance: We tried the pathway of Joe Biden of thumping our chest and pretending that the President of the United States’ words mattered more than the President of the United States’ actions. What makes America a good country is America engaging in diplomacy. That’s what President Trump is doing.
Zelensky: [Talk of Putin ignoring agreements. No mention of NATO of course.]
Vance: I think it’s disrespectful for you to come into the Oval Office and try to litigate this in front of the American media. Right now you guys are going around and forcing conscripts to the front lines because you have manpower problems. You should be thanking the president for trying to bring an end to this conflict.
Wow. What and excellent exchange. I totally back Trump and Vance. Please play the video.
Clueless Zelensky
Zelensky is negotiating with the US public and the EU, not with Trump.
But the EU won’t lift a finger without Trump. And the average US citizen is more concerned over the price of eggs and rent than anything happening anywhere in Europe.
Regardless, what the US public thinks is irrelevant anyway. Trump holds four aces while Zelensky is trying to draw to an inside straight that would lose even if it hits.
I expected a signing today. I almost penned that yesterday but thought better of it before posting. Instead I said, soon. That’s still my forecast.
Peace in Ukraine? A Minerals Deal that Ukraine Can’t Refuse
Yesterday, I said Peace in Ukraine? A Minerals Deal that Ukraine Can’t Refuse
Expect Trump and Zelensky to sign a deal over minerals soon. Then what?
I am glad that I changed “tomorrow” to “soon” in the above sentence before posting.
Q: Now When?
A: Soon
Zelensky has no cards and is in no place to be making demands.
Flashback November 20, 2023: Is a NATO Backing a Negotiated Deal Between Ukraine and Russia?
What’s Guaranteed to Happen?
I have written about this many times before. There is going to be a negotiated settlement that is not going to fully please anyone.
When? It will happen after both sides have had enough of destruction and lives lost, likely accelerated by political events in the US.
Ukraine Already Lost the War But the EU Hasn’t Figured That Out
February 24, 2025 I posted Ukraine Already Lost the War But the EU Hasn’t Figured That Out
A negotiated settlement, land for peace is what I said in 2022. Terms now include mineral rights.
The Goal and a Mission
Like it or not, we now have a goal and a mission. They are one and the same, end the war. The war will end as I repeatedly stated since 2022, a negotiated settlement.
You can agree or disagree with Trump’s approach or the appeasement of Putin. But you cannot change the facts.
The longer Zelensky holds out the more territory Ukraine will lose.
On February 24, I commented A Binding UN Resolution Does Not Blame Russia for War in Ukraine
The US [China and Russia] torpedoed a UN resolution blaming Russia. A US counterproposal passed when France and the UK abstained.
Putin has to be tired of this war now too. And he needs more money from oil and minerals to rebuild.
Mish 2022 and Again in 2023: “It [a negotiated settlement] will happen after both sides have had enough of destruction and lives lost, likely accelerated by political events in the US.“
Q: When?
A: Still soon.
Let’s see how well Zelensky deals with Russia with no support from the US.
This stunt by Zelensky will backfire. Watch Trump demand Zelensky step down as president of Ukraine as part of a deal.
Zelensky has no cards.