Suddenly! Trump and Zelensky's White House talks erupt into fierce confrontation, press conference canceled

On Friday, the meeting between Ukrainian President Zelensky and US President Trump ended in a disastrous outcome at the White House, with both sides fiercely debating the Russia Ukraine war in front of global media and constantly exchanging words.

The main purpose of Zelensky's trip is to gain US support for Ukraine and persuade Washington not to lean towards Russian President Putin, who ordered the invasion of Ukraine three years ago. However, the talks not only failed to bring the US and Ukraine closer together, but also highlighted Kiev's dilemma in maintaining Western support after the US government's change of leadership.

US Vice President Vance emphasized that the biggest conflict in Europe since World War II should be resolved through diplomatic means, while Zelensky firmly opposed it, believing that Putin is untrustworthy and cannot achieve peace through negotiations.

After a fierce confrontation at the White House, Trump quickly posted on the social platform Truth Social, accusing Ukrainian President Zelensky of "lack of respect" towards the United States.

I believe that if the United States were to participate, President Zelensky would not be ready to embrace peace, "Trump wrote. Wait until he is ready to talk about peace before coming back

After the talks broke down, Zelensky left the White House early and failed to sign the planned joint development agreement with the United States on Ukraine's natural resources, which was supposed to be a crucial step in US Ukraine economic cooperation.

This public conflict has also dealt a blow to recent attempts by European leaders to persuade Trump to provide security guarantees for Ukraine. Trump has stated that he will not deploy US troops in Ukraine. European countries generally believe that the United States' security commitments are crucial in deterring future Russian aggression.

Trump warns of 'either negotiation or US withdrawal'

At the meeting in the Oval Office of the White House, Trump and Zelensky had a rare direct argument in front of the media.

People are dying, your soldiers are getting fewer and fewer, "Trump bluntly told Zelensky, threatening to withdraw support for Ukraine.

Trump warns, "Either you make a deal or we withdraw. If we withdraw, you'll have to fight to the end on your own. I don't think the outcome will be very good

He further pressured Zelensky, "You have no chips to play with. Once we sign that agreement, your situation will be much better. But you don't understand gratitude at all, which is not a good thing. To be honest, it's really not a good thing

Zelensky directly challenged Trump's weak attitude towards Putin, urging him to "never compromise with assassins" and insisting that Putin cannot be trusted.

Trump insists that Putin hopes to reach an agreement and responds, "You're betting on World War III

US Vice President Vance also interjected during the meeting, accusing Zelensky of disrespectful behavior for "arguing his own position" in the Oval Office, which Trump agreed with.

Wan Si criticized, 'You didn't even say thank you.'.

Zelensky raised his voice and responded, "I have thanked the American people many times."

The US Ukraine relationship is rapidly changing

Zelensky received billions of dollars in American weapons support and diplomatic support from Washington during the Biden administration. But Trump's attitude towards Ukraine has undergone a huge change, seeking to quickly end the war, improve US Russia relations, and recoup the huge financial investment of the United States in Ukraine.

During the meeting, Trump said, "I hope to be remembered as a peacemaker

He also told Zelensky that the bravery of Ukrainian soldiers deserves praise, but the United States hopes to see the fighting end and use the funds for other purposes, such as reconstruction.

Trump's attitude towards European security affairs has also undergone a significant shift, causing a shock in Europe and exacerbating concerns among Kiev and its allies that Ukraine may be forced to accept a peace agreement that benefits Russia.

Wumei Mineral Cooperation Agreement

In recent days, the United States has reached an agreement with Ukraine to enter the country's vast mineral resources industry, but the agreement does not include any security guarantees for Ukraine, which has disappointed Kiev. Trump claims that the entry of American companies is itself a form of 'guarantee'.

The details of the agreement have not been fully disclosed, but Trump expects its value to reach hundreds of billions of dollars. Zelensky stated that he will not sign any agreement that could burden Ukraine with debt for generations to come.

According to the terms of the agreement, the Ukrainian government will contribute 50% of the natural resource revenue and deposit it into a reconstruction fund jointly managed by the United States and Ukraine. But the agreement does not specify how these funds will be used, only stating that they involve mineral resources, oil and gas fields, or infrastructure such as natural gas terminals and ports.

Ukraine uses the agreement to seek support from the United States

Although the agreement does not provide security guarantees, the Washington talks still have significant diplomatic significance for Zelensky, especially before Trump plans to meet with Putin, as Zelensky is eager to gain support from the US.

A senior European diplomat stationed in Kiev said anonymously, "The Ukrainian side is quite clever in using this cooperation agreement as an opportunity to engage with the United States

Kiev hopes that this agreement will push Trump to more firmly support Ukraine's war efforts, and may even prompt Republican lawmakers in the US Congress to agree to a new round of aid.

Ukraine's defense industry has significantly expanded production, but still heavily relies on foreign military aid and faces a shortage of soldiers. Ukraine successfully repelled the Russian army in 2022 and regained some territory, but currently about one-fifth of its territory is still under Russian control. Since the failure of the Ukrainian army's counterattack in 2023, the Russian army has been slowly advancing. In addition, Ukrainian troops briefly entered the Kursk region of Russia in 2024 and gained control of a portion of the area.

In recent weeks, Trump and Zelensky have repeatedly accused each other in remote exchanges. Trump criticized Zelensky for his inadequate handling of the war, even calling him a "dictator," and urged him to accept the mineral cooperation agreement.

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