After a 45-minute meeting that escalated into a heated exchange, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy left the White House without signing a critical minerals deal that could have strengthened ties between the U.S. and Ukraine.
The confrontation began with President Trump accusing Zelenskyy of being disrespectful, leading to a tense back-and-forth where Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance chastised Zelenskyy for expressing doubts about Russian commitments.
What was meant to be a collaborative discussion quickly turned confrontational, with Trump warning that Zelenskyy was jeopardizing global stability and future U.S. support.
As a result, the anticipated minerals deal intended to grant the U.S. access to Ukraine’s rare earth resources fell apart amid the turmoil.
But with the stakes so high, one crucial question remains: How will this breakdown in negotiations affect Ukraine’s ongoing struggle against Russian aggression and its future security?
Click play to listen to the report from AURN White House Correspondent Ebony McMorris. For more news, follow @E_N_McMorris & @aurnonline.
