Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky rolled into the White House on Friday hoping to strike a deal with the United States. The Trump administration had negotiated an agreement to jointly develop mineral extraction projects in Ukraine. In the corridors of the West Wing, staff stood patiently with lunch ready for Zelensky and President Donald Trump for the pair to enjoy after officially approving the deal.
“This was set up to be like every other state visit. This was an Oval Office spray, [there’d be] the cordial handshake and take a couple questions and then go on to lunch,” a senior White House aide told the Daily Caller.
But just as quickly as he came in, Zelensky was ushered out after he got into a heated spat with Trump and Vice President JD Vance.
Administration officials told the Daily Caller that they fully expected to reach a deal with Zelensky and to sign the long-awaited minerals deal during his visit on Friday, but the Ukrainian president’s inability to know how to work with Trump and Vance got in the way.
Forty minutes after sitting in the Oval, exchanging pleasantries, and taking questions from the press, an argument ensued. The Ukrainian president openly criticized the U.S. for not stopping Russian President Vladimir Putin. Vance shot back. Trump started to raise his voice. Zelenskyy repeatedly interrupted his hosts.