President Trump’s administration has put a multibillion-dollar minerals deal with Ukraine on ice after a tense White House meeting that quickly spiraled out of control. The high-stakes diplomatic showdown appears to have benefited only one person: Russian President Vladimir Putin.
At a Glance
- Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent declared the U.S.-Ukraine minerals deal “off the table” following a contentious White House meeting
- Ukrainian President Zelenskyy claims he’s still “ready to sign” the agreement despite being asked to leave the White House
- The meeting broke down after Zelenskyy expressed doubts about Russia honoring peace agreements
- Trump administration insists a peace deal must come before economic agreements
- One Democratic senator called the diplomatic disaster a “dumpster fire” that benefits Putin
White House Meeting Turns Sour
What was supposed to be a show of unity between the United States and Ukraine quickly deteriorated into a diplomatic catastrophe last week. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived at the White House expecting to sign a critical minerals agreement that would have strengthened economic ties between the two nations, but instead found himself in a heated exchange with President Trump and Vice President JD Vance.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, clearly frustrated by the outcome, placed the blame squarely on Zelenskyy for derailing what should have been a straightforward proceeding. “All President Zelenskyy had to do was come in and sign this economic agreement, and again show no daylight — no daylight — between Ukrainian people and the American people, and he chose to blow that up,” Bessent said on Face the Nation.
Peace Before Prosperity
The Trump administration has made it clear that Ukraine must prioritize peace negotiations with Russia before expecting further economic support. According to Bessent, Zelenskyy disrupted the carefully planned diplomatic sequence by attempting to renegotiate terms during what should have been a ceremonial signing.
“President Zelenskyy has thrown off the sequencing,” Bessent said. “And President Zelenskyy came into the Oval Office and tried to relitigate in front of the world the deal.”
The breakdown centered on Zelenskyy’s reluctance to trust Russian President Vladimir Putin in peace negotiations. This stance directly contradicted the Trump administration’s emphasis on ending the conflict quickly, which has been draining American resources for over two years while yielding few tangible results.
Ukraine Still Wants the Deal
Despite the diplomatic fallout, Zelenskyy has publicly stated that Ukraine remains interested in finalizing the minerals agreement. “Ready to sign,” the Ukrainian president said in a social media post following the meeting, attempting to salvage something from the diplomatic wreckage.
Republican Rep. Mike Turner criticized Zelenskyy’s behavior as inappropriate, while Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly couldn’t resist the opportunity to attack the Trump administration, calling the meeting a “dumpster fire of diplomacy” that ultimately benefits Putin’s Russia. The Ukrainian President has also expressed openness to returning to the White House if invited but has carefully avoided discussing potential territorial concessions to Russia.