Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and President Trump clashed in a heated Oval Office meeting, leaving a crucial deal unsigned and raising questions about the future of US-Ukraine relations.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky denied wrongdoing following a contentious Oval Office meeting with President Trump that ended without a signed agreement. The meeting, intended to finalize a deal granting the US a stake in Ukrainian rare earth elements, deteriorated into a shouting match. Zelensky, in a subsequent Fox News interview, expressed uncertainty about whether he had done anything wrong and stated that the relationship with Trump could be mended. However, he also questioned whether the argument was a pre-planned ambush. The disagreement centered around Zelensky's requests for further US security guarantees, which Trump viewed as already addressed by the proposed rare earth deal. Zelensky insisted on stronger guarantees, including potentially NATO membership, while Trump threatened to withdraw US support if a deal wasn't reached. Vice President JD Vance also clashed with Zelensky, criticizing his approach to diplomacy. Trump later criticized Zelensky on social media for his conduct in the Oval Office. The unsigned deal, intended as a step toward a ceasefire in the ongoing conflict with Russia, remains unresolved, leaving the future of US-Ukraine relations uncertain.
