The recent White House meeting between President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky took a tense turn, with US leaders criticizing Zelensky for not showing enough appreciation for American support.
House Speaker Mike Johnson didn’t hold back when addressing the fallout from Friday’s meeting, saying Zelensky needs to “come to his senses” or “someone else needs to lead the country.” He emphasized that Trump is pushing for peace and suggested that Ukraine’s resistance to negotiations with Russia indicates “he’s not ready for that yet.”
Johnson also took issue with how the Ukrainian leader handled himself in the meeting, saying Zelensky “berated and interrupted his host, instead of expressing gratitude for the extraordinary help that the US has provided his country.”
One of the key topics of the discussion was a mineral rights deal between the US and Ukraine, which Johnson argued would benefit both countries. The agreement would give the US access to rare earth minerals while providing economic security for Ukraine. However, the conversation quickly shifted when Zelensky voiced skepticism about Washington’s ability to broker a peace deal with Moscow.
That skepticism didn’t sit well with Trump and Vance, who fired back. Trump bluntly told Zelensky, “You’re gambling with World War III. And what you’re doing is very disrespectful to the country—this country.”
The backlash continued beyond the White House. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham weighed in, saying Zelensky “either needs to resign or send somebody over that we can do business with.” His comment added to growing frustration among some US leaders, who believe Ukraine should be more open to Trump’s proposed peace talks.
More: Trump Interrupted Again as UK Prime Minister Corrects His Ukraine Aid Claim
The meeting highlighted a growing divide between US leadership and Ukraine, as Zelensky remains firm in his position against making concessions to Russia. Meanwhile, Trump and his allies seem eager to push Ukraine toward negotiations, even as tensions continue to rise both in Washington and abroad.
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