A recent meeting between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office took a dramatic turn, ending in accusations, frustration, and the cancellation of a key minerals deal.
What was meant to be a discussion on economic cooperation and continued military aid quickly spiraled into one of the most contentious diplomatic moments of recent times. The fallout from this meeting could reshape U.S. policy toward Ukraine and send ripples across global alliances.
“This War Would Have Been Over in Two Weeks”
During the exchange, Trump reportedly told Zelenskyy that the war with Russia would have ended in two weeks if the U.S. had not provided military support. He suggested that Ukraine had missed opportunities to negotiate peace with Moscow, implying that continued resistance was prolonging the conflict unnecessarily.
Zelenskyy, visibly frustrated, rejected this notion, arguing that Ukraine’s fight was about survival, sovereignty, and resisting authoritarian aggression. He countered that any so-called “peace” without full territorial restoration would be nothing more than surrender.
Accusations of “Gambling with World War 3”
As tensions escalated, Trump accused Zelenskyy of “gambling with World War III” by continuing to rely on military aid rather than seeking diplomatic solutions.
Vice President J.D. Vance doubled down on this stance, expressing frustration over what he called Ukraine’s “lack of gratitude” for U.S. support. He suggested that the Biden administration’s approach had been too lenient in continuing to fund Ukraine without demanding clear results.
The Collapse of a Major Minerals Deal
Think Trump was aggressive to Zelenskyy for no reason?
Watch the whole talk.
Timestamps below.
Zelenskyy was emotional.
Interrupted Trump.
Called Putin names.
Raised his eyebrows.
All before Trump checked him.
And he called Vance a bitch.
He wasn’t ready for peace.
2:00… pic.twitter.com/ETQMz8tlVc
— Kaizen D. Asiedu (@thatsKAIZEN) February 28, 2025
Beyond military aid, the meeting was supposed to finalize a critical minerals agreement, granting the U.S. access to Ukraine’s vast rare earth minerals—resources essential for modern technology, from semiconductors to electric vehicles.
However, the collapse of diplomatic discussions led to the deal being shelved indefinitely. Without U.S. investment, Ukraine may struggle to leverage its natural resources to rebuild its war-torn economy.
European Leaders React Swiftly
The fallout from the meeting wasn’t limited to Washington and Kyiv. European leaders, who have been pushing for stronger unity against Russia, responded with concern.
French President Emmanuel Macron warned that weakening U.S. support could embolden Vladimir Putin, calling for Europe to prepare for greater self-reliance in defense.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to Ukraine, even floating the idea of deploying British troops as peacekeepers to prevent further Russian advances.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz urged continued international cooperation, emphasizing that Ukraine should not be pressured into a premature ceasefire.
The abrupt end to the meeting and the collapse of U.S.-Ukraine negotiations signal a major shift in diplomatic relations. If Trump’s administration follows through on its hints of reducing military support, Ukraine may find itself in a precarious position, relying even more on European allies.
For now, Ukraine remains determined to fight on, but the question remains: Can it survive without continued U.S. backing? The global community will be watching closely.
