Trump, Zelenskiy Meeting Turns Into Argument; Mineral Deal Falls Through

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Feb 28, 2025

Guest

JD Vance, the US Vice President, shares insights from a turbulent Oval Office meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, which devolved into a heated argument over a crucial minerals deal. Zelenskiy's skepticism about Donald Trump's ability to broker peace with Russia ignited tensions. Daniel Fried, a former US Ambassador, analyzes the diplomatic fallout, while Republican strategist Rick Davis adds context to the political implications. The discussion highlights the complex U.S.-Ukraine relationship and the challenges of negotiation amidst ongoing conflict.

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ANECDOTE

Oval Office Argument

Trump and Zelensky's Oval Office meeting devolved into a public argument, scrapping a planned minerals deal.
This unprecedented display of hostility was a diplomatic failure, says Rick Davis.

INSIGHT

Relationship Test

Zelensky's main goal was to gauge his relationship with Trump.
The public argument revealed a lack of trust, embarrassing the U.S., says Jeanne Sheehan Zaino.

INSIGHT

Trump's Hostility

Trump's hostility towards Zelensky was evident in the meeting.
The minerals deal was a starting point for future negotiations, which are now jeopardized.

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Plans to sign a critical minerals deal between the US and Ukraine were scrapped after Donald Trump’s meeting Friday with Volodymyr Zelenskiy quickly devolved into a fiery exchange over the Ukrainian leader’s doubts that the US president’s efforts to broker a deal with Russia would yield lasting peace.

Zelenskiy departed the White House following the public spat, and a planned signing ceremony and press conference were canceled.

US officials said the minerals deal - which Trump had cast as a necessary step to repay American support as he sought to broker a deal with Russia’s Vladimir Putin - was not signed before Zelenskiy’s departure. “He disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office.

He can come back when he is ready for Peace,” Trump said in a social media post shortly before Zelenskiy’s departure. The Ukrainian leader angered Trump and US Vice President JD Vance when he said he did not believe the planned deal would do enough to deter further Russian aggression. “Putin will never stop and will go further and further,” Zelenskiy said, adding that the Russian leader “hates Ukrainians” and wanted to destroy the country.

“We can do it, but it’s not enough,” he added of the deal.

On this special edition of Balance of Power, hosts Joe Mathieu and Kailey Leinz get instant reaction and analysis to the dramatic moment between Trump and Zelenskiy in the Oval Office with:

Nick Wadhams, Bloomberg US National Security Team Lead
Daniel Fried, Distinguished Fellow at the Atlantic Council/Former-US Ambassador to Poland/Former-Assistant Secretary of State for Europe
Rick Davis, Partner at Stonecourt Capital and Bloomberg Politics Contributor & Jeanne Sheehan Zaino, Senior Democracy Fellow with the Center for the Study of the Presidency & Congress and Bloomberg Politics Contributor
Kelly Grieco, Senior Fellow with the Stimson Center’s Reimagining US Grand Strategy Program

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